Is alarplasty alone sufficient enough? (Photo)

Question

I'd like to improve the appearance of my nose because it's too wide and bulbous. I'm not sure if alarplasty alone is good enough or do I need work done to my bridge and tip? If so, what would be the approximate price? Thanks in advance. I have also attached a photo of my ideal results of surgery.

Alejandro Nogueira, MD · Answer

I'd like to shed some light in your obvious confusional syndrome when you are facing your asian rhinoplasty procedure from a perspective of a lay person, confusion which is as understandable as frequent, but also very easy to solve; please read on attentively:-the wished pic posted has nothing to do with your nose, the preop state is not your current kind of nose, yes both are asians but... there are dozens of subtypes in asian noses and hundreds of different ethnicities; furthermore, the result in the postop image of the wish pic is, IMHO, quite poor and disappointing, in any good rhinoplasty surgeon's hands you can expect way better and more brilliant modifications-asian rhinoplasties have all some common features, making them probably the most complex, difficult, challenging and managed successfully by fewer surgeons from all possible nose cases, follown or equalled only by some central-african noses, with the added difficulty of the cutaneous shortfall and in some ethnics a very tight and unexpandable skin (like Filipino noses, probably the most difficult amongh them, as well as Indonesians and Malaisians)-most asian rhinoplasties have this set of problems and technical requirements:flat bridge: needed dorsal grafting to raise it, normally from ear cartilage or alternatively costal rib cartilage; never ever synthetic prosthesis or other substancespoorly defined, flat and unsupported tip: needing tip support, lengthening and Sheen's tip graftingweak and short lateral cruras of alar cartilages: needing batten grafts and caudal extension quite oftenshort nose with high nasolabial angle and upturned tip / nostril exposure: treated with septal lengthening, either direct or with L shaped caudal extension scaffoldingshort columella skin cover: sometimes skin flaps and plasties are bound to supply skin-it is very rare an asian nose needs alar plasty in terms of alar wedge reduction, and your case is not an exception, you are not a case for such, could become a disaster, irreparaible, with cosmetic and functional consequences-yours is not a broad nose, at all, wrong labelling-yours is a typical standar asian rhinoplasty case needing the formerly mentioned FULL SET of techniques applied, this means yours is a 10 ouf of 10 difficulty scale rhinoplasty with a surgical time of 5-6 hours, in need if very good hands from a well experienced ethnic rhinoplasty surgeon.Feel free to request any additional information from me.PS: if you google before and afer images of asian rhinoplasty you'll see 99% of cases the "after" pic is identical or slightly different to the "before" situation, showing you the extreme difficulty of these cases and how few and scarce surgeons perform them with mastery

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

The simulated surgery indicated in your picture reflects tip work done as well as alar base narrowing.  It may be difficult to achieve exactly that result surgically, and would not be possible with alarplasty alone.

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. In addition to alarplasty, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can
accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your
lower nose. Cost varies based on geographic region and surgeon expertise.  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. The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. 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

Gilbert Lee, MD · Answer

In order to achieve the appearance you seek, you would need a tip plasty and alar base narrowing.  I would recommend you get a consultation with someone who has a Vectra 3D imaging system so you can preview what result you might get with a Tip Rhinoplasty.Good luck.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

An alarplasty simply narrows wide nostrils. To narrow wide nostrils involves removing a small wedge of skin at the base of the nostrils and sewing them closer together. A full rhinoplasty is required to narrow the bridge and the tip. For more information  and many before and after examples, please see the link and the video below

Is alarplasty alone sufficient enough? (Photo)

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Is alarplasty alone sufficient enough? (Photo)

Answers (8)

Answer: Tip plasty vs Alar plasty

Answer: Tip plasty vs Alar plasty

Answer: Is alarplasty alone sufficient enough?

Answer: Is alarplasty alone sufficient enough?

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Everything you need to know about Alarplasty

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