1.) The Shape of the Tip
The tip of your nose is usually one of the first things people notice about this feature because it sticks out the furthest from your face. Whether you are looking at a person straight on or are being viewed from the side, the tip of the nose is easily seen. When the tip of your nose is too large, too small, or an odd shape, it becomes even more noticeable. Rhinoplasty surgeons often have to change nasal tips by making them smaller, narrow, or a little less bulbous. They do this by changing the shape of the cartilage that creates the nasal tip or by using an implant to achieve a specific shape and size.
2.) The Angle of the Tip
Sometimes, noses have the appearance of pointing up or down. This happens when there is a problem with the nasal tip projection. If the tip projects too far, the nose can have a hooked or droopy appearance. If the tip doesn’t project far enough, the nose looks like it is turned upward. Rhinoplasty surgeons can change the projection of the tip by removing excessive cartilage or adding cartilage and refining the shape.
3.) The Look of the Nasal Bridge
Similarly, the bridge of the nose can have a big impact on how the nose looks, especially from the side. A bridge that is too low gives a “ski-slope” appearance to the nose and causes it to blend in with the rest of the face. A bridge that is too high gives the nose a rounded and hooked appearance and makes it even more noticeable from the front. Bridge height can be adjusted by removing or adding cartilage to give the bridge a smooth and even angle. Occasionally implants may have to be used to create the correct height on patients who have severely low or damaged bridges.
4.) The Width of the Nose
Noses can be very narrow, very wide, or anywhere in between. The width of your nose is largely based on genetics and your ethnic heritage. For example, Asians and African-Americans tend to have wider noses while Caucasians tend to have narrow noses. The width of the nose can be narrowed or widened by moving the nostrils. For noses that appear too wide, the nostrils can be moved inward to narrow to the shape of the nose. For noses that appear too narrow, the nostrils can be moved outward.
5.) The Overall Size of the Nose
You may find that your nose looks too big or too small on your face. Noses that aren’t proportional to the rest of the face creates an imbalance between the rest of the facial features and disrupts the person’s overall appearance. The size of the nose can be adjusted by removing or adding cartilage to the nose, or using implants to help create the correct size.
Rhinoplasty at Bustillo Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Often, it isn’t just one problem that a rhinoplasty patient faces with their nose. A combination of any number of factors can create a nose that isn’t in balance with the rest of the face or aesthetically pleasing. That’s why it’s important to have your rhinoplasty done by an expert who knows what aspects of your nose need to be changed to give you the best results.
Dr. Andres Bustillo is a facial plastic surgeon in south Florida who has been exclusively performing facial plastic surgery for over a decade. About half of the patients he sees are rhinoplasty patients and he performs several hundred rhinoplasties a year. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Bustillo, contact his office by calling (305) 663-3380 or send him your information through his website.