Rhinoplasty

Of all the concerns that patients have about their noses, two of the most common are 1) a hump visible from the profile view and 2) a wide tip. So thinning the tip is one of the most common goals of Rhinoplasty.

When you look at a face, more often than not, your attention may be directed to the nasal tip. In fact, how your nasal tip looks affect the aesthetics of your entire face. Changing the shape of the nasal tip is a powerful technique that can make subtle but definite changes in the nasal and facial appearance.

But before you decide on undergoing the procedure, here are the things that you should consider.

What causes a nasal tip to be wide?

The nasal tip consists of a combination of skin and cartilage. Some patients have thicker skin than others and there is nothing that can be done about your skin thickness. The other determinant of tip width is cartilage and that CAN be modified. The nose contains two tip cartilages, one on each side, that provide support to the nostrils and can be thinned, up to a point. In addition, the tip cartilages can be brought closer together to narrow the tip.

As mentioned, the thickness of the skin is important. If the skin is too thin, then every irregularity or asymmetry may be visible. If the skin is too thick then the sculpting of the underlying cartilage may not be visible. Patients with very thick skin, as a general rule, as not as happy with tip thinning maneuvers as those with thinner skin.

If you want to know the thickness of your nose, face the mirror, and check if the cartilages of your nasal tip are visible. If they are, then you have thin skin, if not, then you have thicker skin.

Rhinoplasty generally involves several maneuvers, not just narrowing the tip. Your surgeon will listen to your concerns and design a plan to modify as many of the areas you don’t like as possible. In addition to thinning the tip, many patients are seeking narrowing of the upper portion of the nose, reduction of a hump, shortening of the nose, or improvements in breathing.

What is the difference between Nasal Tip Rhinoplasty and Full Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a procedure that aims to improve the appearance of the nose and how it functions. Nasal tip rhinoplasty, on the other hand, aims to correct your nasal tip alone without touching the remaining nasal structure, by modifying its size, proportion, and rotation. Your surgeon will help you decide if you are a candidate for an isolated nasal tip procedure or if you would be better treated with a full rhinoplasty. 

Dr. Charles Thorne chooses techniques that are appropriate for the unique nature of your nose to achieve the optimal result.

If you are curious and would you like to know more, speak with an expert. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Thorne here. He is a rhinoplasty specialist with more than 30 years of experience.