When you’re looking at another person or looking at yourself in the mirror, the nose is hard to miss. It’s right in the middle of your face and serves as a focal point for your entire appearance. This means that anything “off” about your nose may be noticeable and detract from the rest of your features. Even something as small as a minor bump or a slight dent in your nose can be enough to throw off your appearance.
This is why nose remodeling, or rhinoplasty, is such a popular procedure. It can do a lot of things for your nose, from smoothing out bumps and dents, to completely changing the size and shape. There are three major types of nose remodeling – surgical rhinoplasty, nonsurgical rhinoplasty, and septoplasty.
Surgical Rhinoplasty
This is the type of nose remodeling used most often by plastic surgeons. Surgical rhinoplasty can make changes to your nose that are big or small using a variety of techniques. Every patient is unique and may want something different when they remodel their nose, but there are a few general changes that are fairly common.
- Shape of the nasal tip – The tip of your nose adds a lot of character to your face. Its shape and size contribute to the overall shape and size of your nose, which in turn can impact your overall appearance. Nasal tips can be pointed, round, wide, or narrow. The way your nasal tip looks is usually a result of your individual genetics and your ethnic background. For example, African-Americans often have less definition in the nasal tip. Your nasal tip can be changed by removing some of the cartilage that makes up its shape, or by using an implant or graft to specifically define a shape.
- Size of the nasal bridge – The bridge of your nose is also known as the septum. It adds height and shape to your nose so that it stands out from your face. The cartilage for the nasal bridge also grows based on your genetics, but its shape can be altered with injuries. Your bridge might be a little crooked or dented. You might think your bridge is too high or too low. Your bridge can also have a hooked or beak-like appearance. These issues can be fixed with surgical rhinoplasty. The cartilage can be altered or an implant or graft can be used to achieve the desired shape.
- Width of the nose – The base of your nose and nostrils determine how wide your nose appears. Even if you have a relatively narrow nasal bridge, if the base of your nose is wide, your nose will look wide. The size of your nostrils generally corresponds to the width of your nose as well; the wider your nose, the larger your nostrils appear. Surgical rhinoplasty can change the width of your nose by moving the soft tissue and cartilage that make up your nostrils.
Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty
Not every change to your nose has to be accomplished using surgery. There are ways to alter the shape, size, and appearance of your nose using nonsurgical means. This usually involves a series of injections which can be made of synthetic materials (dermal fillers) or treated fat deposits (facial fat transfer). Dermal fillers and fat transfer can be used to add height to your nasal bridge, fill in dents, smooth out bumps, and making slight changes to the shape of your nasal tip. These alterations can’t be really drastic, but they can be enough to make an impact. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty can also be used as a preview to surgical rhinoplasty if you’re unsure about the procedure.
The types of dermal fillers used in nonsurgical rhinoplasty vary depending on doctor preference and what your nose needs, but they may include Restylane, Juvederm, or Sculptra. These are the same ones used in other areas of your face and they are proven to be extremely effective. The fat deposits used in the transfer injections are taken from another spot on your body, so the material used in the injections comes from you. The fat is treated and prepared before it is added to your nose.
Septoplasty
Septoplasty is a type of surgical rhinoplasty that focuses on your septum. The septum is a strong piece of cartilage that determines the shape of your nasal bridge, directs air through your nose into your lungs, and helps keep your nose healthy. Although your septum is pretty strong, it is still susceptible to break and damage. The majority of broken noses are a result of fractures to the septum. When the septum is broken or fractured, it needs to be set properly to keep your nose functioning correctly. This doesn’t always happen, which can cause your septum to be deformed, twisted, bent, or crooked.
Having a deformed septum impacts the health and function of your nose, which may also impact your overall health. If your septum isn’t straight, you might not be able to breathe as well. Impaired breathing can lead to problems like sleep apnea or snoring. It can also make it harder for you to exercise or perform normal activities.
Septoplasty fixes your septum by straightening it out. It can happen by altering the existing septal cartilage or by adding a cartilage graft from your ear to give your septum extra support. An implant can also be used, though this is not as common because the weakened cartilage in your septum may not be able to support an implant.
Get Started on Remodeling Your Nose with Dr. Bustillo
If you are thinking of remodeling your nose, look no further than Dr. Andres Bustillo. Dr. Bustillo has been a facial plastic surgeon for more than ten years and dedicates about half of his practice to rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty surgery. Dr. Bustillo spends time with each patient individually and works with them to give them a personalized nose that matches their overall appearance and heritage.
To schedule a rhinoplasty consultation with Dr. Bustillo, contact us at (305) 663-3380.
