Nose Job | Rhinoplasty Before & Afters
More commonly referred to as a “nose job”, rhinoplasty is facial plastic surgery to reshape the nose. Some rhinoplasty surgeries improve the size, shape and position of the nose -- while others improve overall symmetry or straighten “bent” or crooked noses.
Bulbous nose
A nose with a bulbous tip is more “rounded” and ball-like at the tip than usual. The goal of bulbous nose rhinoplasty is to make the round nasal tip more slim and defined. By reshaping the lower lateral cartilage and tip cartilages, plastic surgeons reduce the bulbous nasal tip and create a slender, more defined shape.
After rhinoplasty to fix a bulbous nose, the tip of the nose should look proportional with the rest of the face. When viewed from below, the reshaped nose should have a soft triangular shape.
Wide nose
Some wide noses are the result of wide nasal bones in the upper-third of the nose. Others can widen lower down -- with nostrils that are too far apart at the base of the nose.
A wide nose is a very common issue for ethnic rhinoplasty patients. The typical procedure for surgically reducing the width of the nose is to carefully cut and reposition the nasal bones in the upper nose, and to remove tissue from the nostrils to make the base of the nose less wide. All incisions are carefully hidden out of sight within the creases of the nose.
Another common technique is to make the nose project further from the face -- which along with tip refinement can give the effect of a smaller, more slender nose.
Hooked nose
The goal of cosmetic surgery on hooked noses is to smooth-out the dorsal hump on the nasal bridge. The degree of hump reduction can vary widely -- from smoothing a mild bump, to correcting a large and angled “Roman nose”.
Hooked nose rhinoplasty typically involves removal of both excess bone and excess cartilage to correct the nasal shape. Prior to surgery, a plastic surgeon can help visually model the new shape of the nose with a process called digital morphing.
After rhinoplasty to fix a hooked nose the nose may be completely straight, or slightly concave -- depending on the aesthetic goals of the patient.
Crooked nose
Correcting a crooked or twisted nose is challenging because multiple underlying causes can contribute to the problem. In many cases, the cause of a crooked nose is a misalignment of the upper nasal bones with the lower cartilage.
One of the difficulties associated with this procedure is that the nose can drift back into its original misaligned position following the surgery.
Crooked noses are often accompanied by nasal obstruction and breathing issues which can complicate the procedure.
A good rhinoplasty surgeon will focus not only on correcting the asymmetry of a crooked nose, but on achieving an overall balance and harmony with the rest of the facial features.
Complementary treatments
Rhinoplasties can be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures, such as chin implants, in order to achieve a more pronounced effect on the profile of the patient.
Septorhinoplasties combine rhinoplasty and septoplasty surgeries. The rhinoplasty is performed for cosmetic reasons, while the septoplasty corrects a deviated septum to restore (or create) normal breathing function.
What can go wrong with rhinoplasty?
Botched nose surgeries can result in asymmetrical, poorly sized, poorly aligned or even droopy noses.
In the event something does go wrong, patients can always go back and attempt to correct aspects of the rhinoplasty - especially after the first one.
It’s a good idea find out your surgeon’s policy on revision rhinoplasty. Revisions are often performed at a reduced rate, or are even free in some cases. For serious revisions however, patients often seek out revision rhinoplasty experts who specialise in rescuing botched noses.
To reduce the risks of a botched rhinoplasty, be sure to choose a board certified plastic surgeon -- and always research your plastic surgeon's prior work before making a decision.
To that effect, take a look at our rhinoplasty before and after photo gallery: