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