Some ethnic groups have certain features that are specific to them. However, every member of that particular ethnicity does not share these features.

At times, some ethnic patients may choose to undergo cosmetic surgery to modify nose or other facial characteristics.

Key Reasoning

Rhinoplasty is a sought-after choice among patients whose ethnic features include a broad nose. Individuals with African, Middle Eastern, and Asian descent typically consider nose surgery to reduce the width of their nasal structure.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides ethnic cosmetic nose surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

The Big Picture

The surgeon will need to follow an individualized surgical plan to address the unique anatomical and cosmetic needs of ethnic patients. The modifications in the nose should not be done to a point where it completely alters a person’s appearance.

Improving the Nasal Appearance in Ethnic Patients

Ethnic rhinoplasty involves the surgical modification of the nose to develop a shape that is more balanced and harmonious with the other facial characteristics of the patient without changing their appearance in a drastic way.

Nose reshaping cosmetic surgery on African American, Asian, and Hispanic patients should account or the different internal and external features of the ethnic nose.

Due to its distinct characteristics, the ethnic nose warrants special attention. For example, Asian, African American, and Hispanic patients typically have fuller, rounder, and less protuberant nose tips.

The patients may want to lengthen and refine the nasal it to allow it to appear taller and narrower. Additionally, ethnic rhinoplasty can also modify flared or wide nostrils.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty Techniques

In ethnic rhinoplasty, the surgeon uses specialized techniques such as altering the bone and cartilage shape within the nose, making the nostrils narrower or taking cartilage from other body areas for grafting to create a longer nose tip.

Some nose surgeons prefer synthetic implants due to their ease of placement. However, sometimes they can only use the patient’s own cartilage for safe and desirable results. This reduces the risk of complications, and migration or extrusion usually associated with synthetic implants.

Patients from Middle Eastern ancestry often choose to undergo rhinoplasty to reduce the nasal hump, refine the nasal tip, and accomplish a nose shape that is more harmonious with other facial features.

On the other hand, patients from African American ethnicity seek nose reshaping surgery to refine a wide nose bridge, narrow flared nostrils and build-up a weak nasal tip by using a cartilage graft taken from another area of the body.

Hispanic patients may seek rhinoplasty to reduce the size of a prominent nasal bridge while simultaneously augmenting a very flat nose. The plastic surgeon may refine a bulbous or thick nose tip to restore the emphasis on the other facial characteristics of the patient.

Conservative Approach

Developing a conservative surgical plan for ethnic rhinoplasty patients is important. This surgery should preserve the characteristics that make the ethnic face unique and distinct. Ethnic rhinoplasty should only enhance the natural beauty of the patient in a subtle manner.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for ethnic nose surgery.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Alar adjustment is a surgical technique that reduces wide or flared nostrils. The nostrils’ outer edges are known as the ala. Alar adjustment is usually undertaken along with width reduction.

The surgeon excises a portion of tissue to adjust the level of tension that is causing the excessive nostril width.

The Weir technique refers to a specialized alar adjustment technique that involves a specific type of incision. The surgeon excises tissue to create a wedge-shaped cavity and then sutures it to create optimal contours.

Some ethnic patients tend to have flared nostrils along with a nasal flare. African American patients typically have this type of nose structure. At times, patients feel that their wide and/or flared nostrils take away from other facial characteristics. This can adversely affect an individual’s self-confidence.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Procedure

The surgeon will excise a wedge of tissue from the sides of the nostrils near the junction with the cheek in a procedure called alarplasty. The wedge base will be the level of the alar rims, and the pointed apex will be near the sides where the nose links to the cheek groove.  

The width of the nostrils will determine the amount of tissue excision. Many nose surgeons and patients try to measure the change in mm narrowing on the frontal view.

But this can be difficult as the wedge size that is excised does not properly reflect the frontal narrowing distance.

The surgeon will discuss with the patient whether they require a minor, medium, or dramatic change. A majority of patients seek a medium change. Patients should remember that it is always possible to excise more tissue at a later date if they feel that the nostrils are still too flared. However, the removal of excessive tissue is challenging to reverse.

Some rhinoplasty surgeons use a suturing technique to draw the walls in medially. But this may cause tissue bunching. Other surgeons place incisions only inside the nostrils from fear of scarring on the outside.

However, this technique does not produce dramatic changes. Incisions on the outside of the nose heal well and can be properly hidden adjacent to the alar groove. An experienced nose surgeon will place this incision in the region where the nostrils link to the cheeks. This enables the scar to remain hidden within the natural crease between these areas.

Alarplasty (nostril narrowing) is an effective procedure that can be performed as an individual surgery without undertaking a full rhinoplasty.

After the Surgery

The patient will undergo some pain and discomfort in the nose area along with swelling and puffiness during the first few days of the recovery period. The pain will resolve slowly in two to three days. But the swelling will take more time to subside.

Patients normally experience minor bleeding in the incision sites. This bleeding usually resolves in nearly two days. The inflammation on the face will begin to resolve in around one week and should be completely gone by two weeks.

The patient will have to visit the office to have their bandages removed around three days after the surgery. The surgeon will usually remove the sutures at the end of the first week.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

The pyriform aperture is the triangle that the nostrils and nose tip form when the nose is seen from beneath. The surgeon will make adjustments to the pyriform aperture to decrease the width of the nose tip.

They can narrow the width of the nose by making the angles of this triangle steeper at the point where the nostrils link to the face. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Nasal Base Reduction

Nasal base reduction refers to a nose reshaping technique that decreases the width of the nose base in patients who have an excessively broad nasal base relative to the structure of their face. This procedure, in some variation, is usually a standard element in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty procedures.

The nasal base reduction is undertaken even more commonly in ethnic rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty patients of Asian, African American, and Middle Eastern heritage frequently need to undergo nasal base reduction.

In general, people of these ethnicities tend to have a wider nasal base. Therefore, a reduction of this area is necessary to achieve an aesthetically desirable nose appearance.

Many patients seeking rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty express concerns regarding their excessively large or broad nasal base. The nose base is usually measured from the outer margin of one nostril to the outer margin of the other.

Ideally, the width of the nose base should not be more than the distance between the eyes. If there were an imaginary line extending vertically down from the eye corners (inner canthus) on either side, the nasal base should fall between these two lines.

But it is important to understand that this is the cosmetic ideal for a Caucasian nose, and may not be suitable for ethnic patients. Most ethnic nose surgery candidates will achieve optimal results if the nasal base is slightly broader than this ideal.

Anatomy Involved In Nasal Base Reduction

The surgeon should possess an in-depth understanding of the anatomy of the nasal base area to decide on the surgical treatment for individual rhinoplasty patients. The columella is the column-like structure found in the middle of the nose base.

It bifurcates the nostrils into left and right parts. The alar base insertion is the part of the nostril wall that links to the upper lip-cheek juncture. The nasal sill area is located between the alar base insertion point and the columella.

A Wide Sill Region

Certain nose surgery patients with a broad nasal base also tend to have a wide sill area, which makes the nose appear even broader. An excessively broad sill can create a more horizontal type nostril shape. This is commonly seen in patients with a wide nasal sill.

What to Expect after Reduction Rhinoplasty Surgery?

Reduction rhinoplasty surgery involves the same recovery period and strategies as any other rhinoplasty surgery. Following the procedure, the patient will experience swelling and discomfort for a number of days as the nose and the surrounding tissues begin to heal.

The bruising will subside slowly, and the swelling will resolve as the nose area heals. The rhinoplasty results will manifest slowly, and the patient can return to their normal routine slowly following the recovery period.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

The nasolabial angle comprises two lines, which are apparent when viewing the facial profile. The first line extends from the nasal tip to the area above the upper lip while the second line runs from the upper lip to the bottom of the nose where the nostrils divide.

The nasolabial angle depends on the nose projection and rotation of the nasal tip. In most cases, the nose surgeon will try to develop a 90- to 95-degree nasolabial angle in males and a 100- to 105-degree angle in females. To refine this angle, the surgeon will adjust the projection and rotation of the nose.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides nose reshaping surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Adjusting the CLA

It is important to assess the columella-labial angle (CLA) in rhinoplasty patients to accomplish aesthetically appealing outcomes.

An increase in this angle could cause an upward tilt of the nasal base in addition to a related reduction in the nose length. This aspect is frequently overlooked due to the differences in nasal anatomies, and doing so can result in undesirable surgical results.

The columella and upper lip share a complex relationship. It is a difficult task to maintain a particular angle in rhinoplasty patients. To accomplish this, an experienced surgeon uses various approaches such as nasal cartilage adjustments, suturing techniques, and cartilage grafts.

The caudal septum, nasal spine, and medial crura of the lower lateral cartilage are vital in shaping the columella. For this reason, these factors contribute to CLA determination.  

The most aesthetically appealing columella-labial angle is 95 to 100 degrees in men and 10o to 110 degrees in women on profile view. The normal columellar display falls between 2 mm and 4 mm. A large hanging columella can significantly affect the aesthetic appearance of the nose.

Tent Pole Grafting

The ‘tent pole graft’ refers to an innovative technique which is used to set and preserve the CLA. The function of this graft is similar to the septo-columellar interpositional grafts.

But there is no need to dissect or delineate the upper lateral cartilages from the septum to insert the graft. The tent pole graft is used in difficult revision rhinoplasty cases as well as in procedures where the tip projection undergoes a major increase.

In this technique, the surgeon fixes a cartilage piece to the columellar strut in the desired position. Subsequently, they determine the optimal angle by fixing the posterior end of the graft temporarily with a needle to the supratip cartilaginous dorsum.

After determining the angle, the surgeon will suture the graft to the dorsum. This type of graft allows the extensive columellar strut to remain stable and prevents the tip from falling back. Apart from maintaining the nasal tip, the tent pole graft allows the development of the desired CLA.

A surgeon may use this technique in cases where the tip needs support, such as revision rhinoplasty procedures and cases where the nasal tip or columella is lengthened.

It is also beneficial in cases where the surgeon needs to preserve the nasal length in patients with short noses. They can maneuver this graft to manipulate the nasolabial or CLA easily.

This grafting technique is particularly helpful for patients who are not decent candidates for the septal extension graft or in cases where it is difficult to fix such a graft. For example, it can help patients with mild to moderately short noses.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

The projection of the nose is the distance that it protrudes outwards from the point where it connects the upper lip to its tip. If the tip is too protuberant, it can adversely affect the overall appearance of the nose.

Conversely, noses that under-project look excessively shallow and make the nose appear too small in comparison to other characteristics of the face.

A surgeon can trim away a portion of the cartilage at the tip of the nose to reduce its projection. To increase nose projection, the surgeon may need to separate and realign the cartilage. They will push the cartilage forward and then suture it into a refined position. If there is inadequate cartilage in the nasal tip, the surgeon may use a cartilage graft to augment it.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides nose reshaping surgery to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

Correcting an Over Projected Nose

Individuals who are unhappy about their over-projecting noses, which project too far out from their face, can consider corrective surgery involving trimming away the nasal cartilage at the tip. This surgery pushes the nose tip back providing it with a more attractive appearance. This procedure is also called nasal de-projection or retro-displacement.

Correcting an Under Projected Nose

The nose cartilage will have to be extended to re-project an under-projecting nose. The surgeon may use two approaches to accomplish this outcome, depending on the structure of the nose. One approach involves shaving the nose cartilage and suturing it up again to accomplish better nasal projection.

The second approach will involve the surgeon sourcing a cartilage graft from another area of the body which has adequate cartilage availability and using it to enhance the nasal projection.

In case of primary rhinoplasty, this cartilage graft is usually sourced from the nasal septum. The surgeon may take cartilage from the ribs or the ears as well, if necessary.

Types of Cartilage Grafts

According to the location and technique of cartilage graft use, the surgeon may use columellar struts to provide support to the columella which divides the nostrils. If the patient is undergoing revision rhinoplasty, there may be inadequate septum cartilage availability.

Due to its elasticity, the ear cartilage is believed to be advantageous in offering support to the nasal tip. A cartilage transplant from the ear will typically be thicker compared to cartilage from the septum. But the results could be a nasal tip that feels more natural rather than one that is stiff and solid because of the elasticity.

Costal or rib cartilage is also considered a feasible option if cartilage is needed for primary rhinoplasty. Generally, ear or septal cartilage is used to refine the nasal tip. But at times, rib cartilage may also be used.

Considerations for Male Patients

Men considering nose projection surgery may have concerns on their nose appearing too feminine after the procedure. However, an experienced and skilled nose surgeon can ensure that the male aesthetics of the nose remain intact while improving the nasal projection.

For men who do not want to undergo a “full rhinoplasty,” a nose projection surgery can effectively enhance the nose shape while preserving its male characteristics.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Various techniques can be used to perform rhinoplasty cosmetic surgery, depending on the patient’s unique anatomical and aesthetic needs.

At the time of the pre-operative consultation, the nose reshaping surgeon will establish the candidacy of the patient for a specific type of cosmetic rhinoplasty procedure.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Reduction Rhinoplasty

Reduction rhinoplasty is a commonly used nose reshaping technique. This procedure makes the nose more proportionate to the other features of the face. It is a suitable procedure for patients with nasal issues such as a bump on the nasal bridge, excessively flared nostrils, and an elongated nose tip.

In this procedure, the surgeon will remove tiny fragments of bone and cartilage to achieve aesthetically desirable results. Furthermore, the surgeon may use a technique called alar base reduction to shrink the nostrils. They will remove tiny amounts of tissue from the area where the cheek and nostrils connect while performing the alar base reduction.

Augmentation Rhinoplasty

Another major rhinoplasty plastic surgery technique is augmentation rhinoplasty. In this procedure, the surgeon will graft bone or tissue to develop the nasal tip and/or bridge. Sometimes the surgeon uses cartilage sourced from other nasal areas such as the septum.

However, if the patient has insufficient tissue in this area, the surgeon may use cartilage from other body areas, rib bone, synthetic materials, and other forms of biological tissue.

Post-Traumatic Rhinoplasty

For patients with nose injuries, a post-traumatic rhinoplasty may be an appropriate procedure. This procedure can improve the functionality as well as the appearance of the nose. This surgery can correct crooked noses and address issues in the nasal septum.

In many cases, patients of traumatic facial injuries suffer from broken noses. The surgeon may need to re-fracture the nose in such cases. Afterwards, they will reset the nose to attain desirable outcomes. A surgeon can usually set a basic nose fracture within a ten-day period after the injury.

Reconstructive Rhinoplasty

Reconstructive rhinoplasty is an appropriate procedure for patients who have lost their entire nose or a part of it to skin cancer, accidents, or another serious illness.

This treatment involves the surgeon rebuilding the nose through approaches such as skin grafts, flap techniques, and various other innovative procedures. This is a complex process in which the patient may need numerous surgeries over a few months.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Ethnic rhinoplasty also involves the use of the same techniques as other types of nose surgeries. People of African American, Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic, Middle-Eastern, and Asian lineage often seek ethnic rhinoplasty.

Individuals from these ethnicities usually have softer nasal contours. In this procedure, the surgeon will ensure that the integrity of the ethnic face remains undisturbed.

Adolescent Rhinoplasty

Doctors recommend that most teenage patients should wait until their nose is completely developed before undergoing nose reshaping surgery. Some exceptions are cases where the teen patient is experiencing breathing challenges or has undergone trauma.

Surgeons make sure that they protect the delicate nasal features of the teen patient during this surgery. In addition, the surgeon must determine that the teenager is psychologically and emotionally ready for nose surgery.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Rhinoplasty surgery usually involves reducing a dorsal hump or bump on the nasal bridge. Sometimes a variation of this condition can create the illusion of a significant bump, called the low radix or pseudo-hump.

The radix is the upper bony portion of the nose. The radix and the cartilage beneath it may be substantial leading to the appearance of a bump. If the radix is shallow, it can cause the appearance of a depression and a bump. The cosmetic surgeon can carefully shave away small portions of the radix to reduce its size.

They may also graft a portion of the patient’s cartilage taken from another location in the nose to add fullness to a depressed area of the nose. By augmenting the space right above the radix, the surgeon can create a straighter slope.

Proper radix management is essential to develop a natural nasal appearance. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Pseudo-Hump

A pseudo-hump refers to a nose where the radix is not sufficiently developed and under-projects. This helps create a facial profile in which the tissue beneath the radix (towards the nasal tip) seems even larger than it really is. A pseudo-hump develops when the bone of the radix does not project the overlying soft tissue properly.

Correcting an Underdeveloped and Low Radix

For an under-projecting radix, rhinoplasty with radix tissue grafting is the most appropriate procedure. Fascia, cartilage, or other tissue can comprise a radix graft.

In general, the surgeon uses a carved piece of cartilage (usually taken from the septum) for a radix graft. They will then place this graft beneath the skin and muscle of the radix where it remains properly hidden.

The surgeon will address the deficit in the bony structure by placing the cartilage graft over the bone where it raises the sunken soft tissue. This procedure helps develop a much straighter profile without the requirement to remove any underlying bone or cartilage from the radix.

Can you have Weak Radix and a True Hump?

It is possible for a patient to have an under-developed radix along with a true hump. The benefit of treating both these conditions at the same time is that the surgeon can undertake a more conservative approach to hump removal.

In such procedures, the surgeon brings the ideal profile line closer to the hump while elevating the position of the radix. As a result, the surgeon will have to eliminate a lesser portion of the hump to develop a straighter profile. The results of this surgery appear less “surgical” and more natural looking because of a stronger nasal starting point.

Correcting Radix as Part of Revision Rhinoplasty

The angle between the frontal and nasal bones in the nose determines the height of the radix. This height should be in proportion to the dorsal height, length, and tip projection to develop beautiful, harmonious outcomes.

The nose may appear Romanesque after the surgery if the radix remains too high, or if the radix graft used for the procedure is too substantial. In revision rhinoplasty, the surgeon reduces the radix to its right and most appropriate proportions relative to other nasal aspects and the overall shape of the face.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

If the nasal tip lacks definition or is overly defined, it may not have a proper rotation. The upward or downward turn of the nasal tip is known as rotation.

The cosmetic surgeon will reshape the cartilage to modify the nasal tip. They will pay close attention to the base of the nose during this procedure as it affects the tension and rotation.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding communities.

What is Nose Tip Rhinoplasty?

Any surgical procedure undertaken on the lower third part of the nose is known as nasal tip rhinoplasty. This is a complex procedure where the nose surgeon should be experienced and skilled in rhinoplasty and have a deep understanding of the nose structure as well as how the cartilage and other tissue impacts the process of nose reshaping.

Nasal tip refinement is not necessarily a cosmetic surgery. In some cases, it may be a medical necessity. For example, at times, the patient may experience breathing problems due to the abnormal shape of their nasal tip either in their routine life or when sleeping.

A sinus infection could also develop due to an abnormal nose tip. At times, patients may also experience speech impediments due to their abnormal nasal tip.

Reasons to Undergo Tip Refinement

Patients seek nasal tip refinement, either individually or as an alternative to rhinoplasty, for multiple reasons. But it is typically undertaken to correct a “bulbous” or fuller nasal tip.

Certain patients may find their natural nose structure to be unattractive, such as patients with “hooked” noses, noses that sag at the tip, or upturned noses. Nasal tip refinement offer creates a slimming appearance for the face in general.

Wide Tip Correction

A wide or bulbous nose usually occurs due to a combination of thick nose skin and large nasal domes that are spaced apart widely. A thick ligament or fat may separate the nasal domes in many cases.

The surgeon will modify the soft tissue and move the domes closer to treat this condition. They may place a graft on the nasal tip itself for patients who have thick skin as this will give the nasal tip better definition. The surgeon can also trim off or tweak the cartilage structure underneath the skin to make the nasal tip narrow.

Less Invasive Procedure

In comparison to a complete nose job, the nasal tip refinement surgery is much less invasive. The inner nasal structure undergoes substantial modification in a typical rhinoplasty. This may involve fracturing bones which will lead to a more extended recovery period.

However, nasal tip refinement typically involves two to three incisions which allow the surgeon to access the cartilage in that site. The surgeon will close the incisions after reshaping the nose. Furthermore, this procedure involves a relatively brief recovery period.

If a patient is an ideal candidate for tip refinement surgery, it can typically provide an effective alternative to “complete” rhinoplasty surgery. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.

Patients with a nose that is slightly crooked or shifted to one side can consider a procedure to straighten. In this procedure, the surgeon eliminates some bone or cartilage or physically moves the tissue.

Similar to a broken nose after functional rhinoplasty, the cosmetic surgeon may also place a splint to hold the nose in position as it heals.

The reason for the crookedness may determine if it is very subtle or quite visible. Crooked noses are typically only an aesthetic problem. But in certain cases, it can have an impact on a person’s breathing. Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey provides rhinoplasty to patients in Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and surrounding locations.

Causes for Nose Crookedness

Before considering treatment options, it is vital to understand the reasons for the nose crookedness. There are two main types of crooked noses. One type of crookedness occurs because of an issue within the complex system of cartilage, tissue, and bones that make up the nose.

The various reasons which may cause this condition include:

• Birth defects
• Injuries, such as a fractured nose
• Severe infections
• Tumors
• Nose surgery

The reason for the crookedness will determine if the nose is C-, I-, or S-shaped.

A septal deviation is the reason for the other type of nose crookedness. The septum is the internal wall that divides the nasal cavity into two identical airways. A deviated septum causes this wall to lean to one side which partially obstructs one nasal airway. While some individuals are born with a deviated septum, others develop it due to an injury.

Along with making the nose appear crooked, a deviated septum can lead to the below mentioned conditions:

• Loud breathing
• Problems sleeping on one side
• Nosebleeds

A qualified doctor can determine the reason for the crooked nose and identify the most suitable course of treatment to correct it.

Surgical Treatment

A slightly crooked nose may be straightened using dermal fillers. But more severe cases will usually need plastic surgery. Rhinoplasty surgery helps address cosmetic problems of the nose while septoplasty straightens that wall that divides the inside of the nose into two passageways.

Rhinoplasty

The two types of rhinoplasty procedures are cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional rhinoplasty. Cosmetic rhinoplasty only focuses on correcting the appearance of the nose. Conversely, functional rhinoplasty helps address breathing problems.

According to a 2015 study, rhinoplasty can successfully straighten crooked noses in patients with or without facial symmetry, regardless of the technique used. Facial symmetry refers to the similar appearance between both halves of the face.

Septoplasty

Septoplasty reshapes the wall between the nasal passageways to straighten a crooked nose. For patients with a crooked nose due to a deviated septum, septoplasty us likely a suitable procedure. This surgery can straighten the nose and relieve obstructions in the nasal airways due to a septal deviation.

The Bottom Line

A crooked nose is a commonly occurring condition which can develop due to nasal trauma or a deviated septum. Around 80 percent of individuals have some form of a deviated septum. If their crooked nose is leading to breathing issues or major cosmetic concerns, the patient should consider an appropriate treatment option.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Paul McCluskey receives patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, Georgia, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

For more information on procedures and treatments offered by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Paul McCluskey and the Plastic Surgery Institute of Atlanta, visit:

• psiatlanta.com
• sexualaesthetics.com

Serving patients in and around Atlanta, Buckhead,  Roswell, Marietta, Georgia and surrounding areas.