Do you have distinctly flared nostrils? Widely flaring nostrils can be repaired by a rhinoplasty maneuver called an alar base resection or anaplasty. But let’s make sure we are talking about the same thing because communication between the doctor and the patient is key to success.

Does your nose seem too big for your face?

When people think their noses are too big there are three possible dimensions or measurements that can be excessive: The length (the distance from where the nose starts below the forehead to the nasal tip), the width (as viewed from the front), and the PROJECTION (the distance the nose sticks out into space). Some large noses are large in one dimension and some in all three. The nose that is not too long and not too wide but just sticks out too much is sometimes called the Pinocchio nose.  Obviously, the length and projection are most easily judged on the side profile whereas the width is best judged from the front.

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that alters your nasal shape and/or improves your breathing. Since noses come in different shapes and sizes, people seek rhinoplasty for different reasons. Some nasal shapes are more common in specific ethnic groups and some undesirable nasal shapes are the result of previous rhinoplasty surgery that may have been overdone or inexpertly performed. One such characteristic shape is the “saddle nose.”

Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a “nose job”, is a procedure during which the appearance and/or function of your nose is/are modified by manipulating the nasal bones and cartilages. There are two main approaches that your plastic surgeon can use to gain access to your nasal structures: 1) the closed or 2) the open approach.  The two techniques are more similar than they are different but patients frequently ask questions about when one technique is the most appropriate. 

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.