Do I need Gore-Tex or is alarplasty/tip plasty enough? (photos)

no, dont use goretex.  that really isnt done anymore for dorsal augmentation.  i have been going to and teaching at rhinoplasty educational meetings for years now.  i have not heard of one person mention that in years.  rib graft, thats what is need if you are going to augment the dorsum among other things 

Hello and thank you for your question.  In general, I would highly recommend against placement of gore-text in your nose, as this can lead to a host of complications including but not limited to wound breakdown, Gore-Tex extrusion, skin distortion, infection, malposition, and an unsatisfactory cosmetic appearance long-term.  Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs alone it appears that you can benefit from a tip rhinoplasty where the nasal tip cartilage is modified for a more refined, feminine, and less projected look.  The modification of your nasal cartilage can be done with trimming, stitching or grafting.  Your skin can also be thinned during that time, as necessary.  If your septum is deviated and you have breathing difficulty, a septoplasty may benefit you as well.  The next step for you is to find the right aesthetic plastic surgeon.  In your rhinoplasty consultation, be sure your surgeon addresses all your aesthetic goals and concerns specifically, and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incisions used (with actual photographs and not just digital animations), the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course.  Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar nose appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome.

After seeking out a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon.  It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired nose outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.

For more information on rhinoplasty, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS

Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Hello and thank you for your question.  You should not have gore-tex placed in your nose, as this is associated with numerous complications including infection, malposition, extrusion, etc.   Based on your photographs, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty which can be performed by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. You may also benefit from an alar base reduction.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon. Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon