My nose widens and drops when I smile, upper lips covering too much of my teeth. Any suggestions?

Question

I am satisfied with my nose when i do not smile, but when I smile it widens and drops and get a more "crooked" shape from the side.. Also my gum is situated high, so my teeth won´t show that much when I smile, because of my gums and because my upper lip covers them. I would like a look with a big smile and a small cute nose, and not the opposite, what can I do? If I "lift" the tip of my nose, will my upper lip be lifted too?

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. It is possible to elevate the droopy nasal tip with rhinoplasty.  Your surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose.  You may also benefit from an agled caudal septal trim to shorten the length of the nose.  Cartilage grafts can also be performed to improve the tip refinement.  The most important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with.  With good surgical technique, you could have an outstanding result.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.Best wishes and good luck.Richard G. Reish, M.D.Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

John Layke, DO, FACS · Answer

You may have an active depressor nasii muscle of the nose.  The best thing to do is to meet with a Board-Certified plastic surgeon who will accurately examine your nose, start a discussion concerning your wants and needs, create a simulation that will show you what your nose could look like after surgery, and develop a tailored plan.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

A rhinoplasty procedure can accomplish lifting a drooping tip with a combination of suture techniques and cartilage grafts applied to the nasal tip cartilages. Any dorsal hump also need to be removed. To prevent the tip from drooping when smiling, it's important to release the depressor septi ligament. For many examples and more information, please see the video and link below

My nose widens and drops when I smile, upper lips covering too much of my teeth. Any suggestions?

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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My nose widens and drops when I smile, upper lips covering too much of my teeth. Any suggestions?

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.