Nose Tip and Nostril Reconstruction

Albany, Schenectady & Saratoga Springs Rhinoplasty

There are a number of nasal tip and nostril irregularities that can be corrected with a rhinoplasty procedure. Here are some of the most common forms that we see:

• Tip is too large or bulbous – This can be reduced by partially removing or reshaping the cartilage in the tip of your nose. However, your cartilage should be left essentially intact along the rim of your nostrils to prevent them from looking pinched.
• Poorly defined tip – The tip of your nose should be slightly separated from the upper part of your nose. It should also project slightly beyond the main body of your nose. Schenectady plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Barach can achieve this result by operating on your nose tip cartilages. If correctly performed, your nose tip will not "fall" after your surgery.
• Nostrils are too wide – The "wings" of your nose can be narrowed by cutting out a wedge-shaped piece from the outer base of each of your nostrils. This is referred to as alarplasty, and it is one of the few times that an external cut is made on your nose. The resulting scars are thin and hidden from view in the natural crease of your nostrils.
• Nasal tip hangs down – This is usually more of an illusion than a real deformity. When you have a curved bump on your nose, your eye tends to follow it down to the tip, which seemingly droops. When your bump is treated, your tip should take on a more normal appearance. If the tip really does hang down, it can usually be set right by removing surplus cartilage. This should raise it to a more attractive position. However, if your doctor is careless and removes too much cartilage, or removes it from the wrong place, your result may be a "piggy" nose, causing your nostrils to look wide and open.
• The area between your nostrils hangs down – The area between your nostrils is called the columella, and it can be corrected by simply shaving off some of the cartilage that is causing the problem. This should elevate your columella to its proper height. It can also create the illusion of an elevated tip without making the nostril more visible.
• The area between your nostrils retracts – This particular problem can either occur due to your natural state or as an undesirable result from a previous surgery. The most common correction is grafting a piece of cartilage to the area to bring your columella back in balance.
• “Ski jump” nose or “saddle” nose – When you have too little tissue along the top of your nose, the middle of your nose may appear to be caved in, or even crushed. This condition is especially prevalent in people of Asian or African-American heritage. It is almost always treated by taking cartilage from the inside of your nose and using it to build up the affected area of your nose. Cartilage from the ear or rib cage may also be used as acceptable alternatives to using cartilage from inside your nose.

Please contact our Albany plastic surgeon today to schedule your initial rhinoplasty consultation. Upstate Plastic Surgery serves patients in Albany, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, New York.