How should I go about asking a doctor to give me features from my old nose? Is it realistic? (photos)

Question

I had a rhinoplasty done about five years ago. I had my nostrils narrowed, tip refined, and dorsal hump shaved. I miss aspects of my old nose. Particularly, I like how my bridge appeared smaller before. I also feel my nose now looks slightly crooked. When I complained to my surgeon, he noted my face was crooked. Thoughts?

Mark K. Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  Although an exam in person is ideal, from your photographs alone it appears that you can benefit from a subtle tip refinement to improve the deviation and crookedness at the tip.  The bridge does not appear significantly larger as you alluded. 
A septal reset may improve your nasal tip if the septum is contributing to the asymmetry and crookedness.  If the lower lateral cartilages are indeed deviated, then further tip modification and soft tissue grafting will likely provide the optimal symmetry you are seeking. Due to your prior rhinoplasty, the cartilage in your septum was likely harvested and so you will likely require MTF (cadaver) cartilage.  The modification of your existing nasal cartilage at the tip can be done with trimming, stitching or grafting.

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.

How should I go about asking a doctor to give me features from my old nose? Is it realistic? (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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How should I go about asking a doctor to give me features from my old nose? Is it realistic? (photos)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Revision Rhinoplasty

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