A Rhinoplasty Story From Project Beauty

“I think I have more of a petite face and my nose was kind of overbearing,” says Allison, a teenager from Staten Island.  Allison explains her desire to undergo rhinoplasty, how she found a board-certified plastic surgeon, and how the surgery changed her life.

She’s featured in this video on Project Beauty, a new consumer advice website launched by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty can be translated into “nose-shaping.”  Many surgical techniques exist to alter the shape of your nose. If your nose appears disproportional or unbalanced, rhinoplasty can help.  If your nose is short, long, wide, narrow, crooked, or just large, there are ways to reshape it while maintaining a natural appearance.

Two Methods

Plastic surgeons are performing this procedure with two basic techniques: the closed technique and open technique.  In the closed technique (for most patients), all incisions are made inside your nose and the skin is not lifted away from the bone and cartilage.  In the open technique, the plastic surgeon lifts the skin to obtain a clear view of the underlying nasal structure.

Is there an ideal or perfect nose shape?

Because each person’s face has a different size and shape, each person’s ideal nose will differ as well.  You also have to take ethnic considerations into account, as many patients do not wish to completely erase these characteristics.

Aside from these relative aspects of rhinoplasty, there are general aesthetic qualities that almost everyone will find appealing.   Most agree that the nasal dorsum should be straight, the tip should be somewhat narrow, and a small dip should be present between the nasal dorsum and the tip. Ask your plastic surgeon to show you photos of these qualities during your consultation.

A Possible Alternative

In some cases, the nose actually exhibits a normal shape and proportion, but it appears unbalanced because of a weak chin.  A facial implant or chin augmentation procedure can often solve this problem by increasing the projection of your chin.