Nose surgery (rhinoplasty) can address multiple concerns about the nasal bridge (dorsum) and nasal tip. It is important to have a detailed discussion with a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon about your concerns and aesthetic goals regarding your nose.
What Concerns Can Be Addressed with Nose Surgery?
Dr. Jeffrey Harmon
Nasal Hump
Composed of a variable combination of cartilage and bone, a hump on the nose can make other features of the nose appear small and the length short. The treatment of a nasal hump is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is important to consider each patient’s aesthetic goals, gender, and ethnic background when developing a surgical plan. Some individuals may benefit from – and desire – the creation of a gentle concavity to their nose. In contrast, over aggressive reduction of a nasal hump in a male patient can make their nose appear more feminine. Instead, the nasal hump tends to be softened or straightened. It is also important to be respectful of the beautiful features of a nose that communicate the ethnic background of an individual. For example, individuals of Arab, Iranian, or Turkish background may request only a subtle reduction in their nasal hump.
Wide Nasal Bridge
A wide nasal bridge often needs to be narrowed when a large nasal hump is reduced to reduce the risk of long-term complications. It is also important to consider the width of the nasal bridge when a large, bulbous nasal tip is narrowed. The nasal bridge may appear wider than the tip if it is not narrowed with the tip, thereby breaking an aesthetically ideal curve from the eyebrow to the nasal tip.
Bulbous Nasal Tip
Narrowing and refining a bulbous nasal tip, like addressing a drooping tip, is among the most technically difficult portions of nose surgery (rhinoplasty). This is due to the complexity of the paired cartilages that contribute to the shape of the nasal tip. Refinement of the nasal tip usually employs some combination of suturing and reorientation of the cartilages, sometimes with removal of a small amount of the cartilage.
Drooping Nasal Tip
Lifting a drooping nasal tip naturally is technically difficult because the complex nasal tip cartilages need to be reoriented and secured to the septum – the wall separating each nasal cavity - symmetrically. Moreover, the projection of the nasal tip can change as a result of lifting a drooping a nasal tip, which needs to be accounted for when securing the final position of the nasal tip.
Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon
It is important to seek a fellowship-trained specialist in plastic surgery of the face and neck when you have concerns about your nose.
Request a Consultation
Request a consultation with Dr. Harmon at Harmon Facial Plastic Surgery in Cincinnati. Visit our clinic. You will learn more about Dr. Harmon’s credentials, style, and approach. Build a relationship with our dedicated team. Do not stop at searching “plastic surgery near me.” Get in touch with us to learn more!
This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute direct medical advice. It is essential that you have a consultation with a qualified medical provider prior to considering any treatment. This will allow you the opportunity to discuss any potential benefits, risks, and alternatives to the treatment.