Rhinoplasty to refine the nasal tip of a younger woman

Rhinoplasty patients often ask to change the appearance of the nose by narrowing and/or lifting the tip of the nose. The nasal tip is made of skin, fat, and cartilage. There normally isn't bone in the tip. Some patients with a bulbous or droopy tip may have too much skin, while others may have excess cartilage or fat that makes the nasal tip appear wide.

This young woman was looking to have rhinoplasty to narrow the tip and make the nose smaller. Her nasal tip was bulbous from a combination of all factors including skin, cartilage, and fat. She was looking for natural rhinoplasty results and consulted with facial plastic surgeon Dr. Chaboki to review options.

She underwent a "closed" rhinoplasty, which avoids an external scar between the nostrils. Dr. Chaboki used her own cartilage from the nasal septum to help refine the tip during the rhinoplasty. Cartilage grafts allowed the tip to be more supported and less droopy. The nostrils were also narrowed by removing excess skin. No osteotomies (i.e. bone reshaping) were performed.

Postoperative photographs are approximately four months after surgery, which show natural narrowing of the tip. The nasal tip continues to become more refined with time as swelling gradually resolves. She's very happy with her results.

Dr. Chaboki tries to achieve a balanced and proportionate nose that appropriately matches the rests of the face and takes attention away from the nose itself. In addition, rhinoplasty should improve nasal breathing, if possible. Dr. Chaboki may perform septoplasty, turbinate reduction, and sinus surgery to improve nasal function for appropriate candidates during the rhinoplasty.