One Year After Rhinoplasty and my Smile Has Not Returned. Can This Be Fixed? (photo)

       The nasal depressor septi has considerable anatomic variability and its interdigitations with the tip, septum, and orbicularis oris can be complex.  It may be possible to reattach the muscular elements through an intranasal or intraoral approach.

What you are describing has been known be helped by releasing the depressor septi nasi muscle. It's a good idea to speak with an experienced facial plastic surgeon about this. Following another six to twelve months, your smile should return back to normal.

In many cases,  removal of a bump on the bridge of the nose can cause the upper lip to lengthen slightly.  In most cases, this is actually a desired effect of the surgery.  From your photos, I would not recommend any further surgery to try to reverse it.  It looks like you ave a nice result.

Dear photjunkie2013,


Do you feel anything that is preventing you from smiling?

Sometimes we place grafts in the columella that can temporarily change the smile, but usually you see a crease just under the nose

You should bring it up to your surgeon where you can have an exam


Best regards,

Nima Shemirani

 The effect that is noticed before your rhinoplasty is called buccal or labial show. This is where your see the mucosa or lining over your teeth when you smile. This can commonly occur with patients with very large noses. The nose actually pulls on the upper lip causing it to raise up as a patient smiles showing the gums of the teeth. It is not normally considered aesthetically pleasing. Most patients desire significant buccal show with smiling to be corrected.
 Your smile after surgery in my option is much more appealing than before. You could shorten your upper lip but, this could leave a significant scar just below your nostrils. Consider addressing your concerns with your surgeon at your next visit. Best,

 

 

Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS

I believe alot of people who have had rhinoplasty have slight changes in their smile but don't realize it or ignore it because they are otherwise pleased with their new appearance. This is especially true if work was done in the area of the nasal spine or subnasal grafts are placed to raise the tip of the nose. There are small muscles located at the base of the nose that flare the nostrils and other things that can be effected by surgery in this area. Regardless, I don't think there is a way to reverse this effect and only you probably notice the difference in your quite lovely smile.

Hi.

I see what you are talking about.  The upper lip gives the illusion of being longer.  I don't think it will self correct after a year, but my advice is to leave it alone.