Small bumps on the nose can just be filed down without having to “break the bones.”
If the bump is significant, the bones on the sides of the nose should be broken to narrow the width of the nose to avoid a “boxy” appearance.
Shaving down the nose only is call “dorsal hump rasping.” The costs vary, but are around $2-3000. (Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)
Can be done without fracturing the bones, but unlikely
Removing the bump on the nose is part of a rhinoplasty. The nose is a complicated 3D structure.
Changes in one part of it usually requires changes in another part.
Sometimes, if the bump is very small, it can be filed down without fracturing the bones. However, most of the time, reducing the bump changes the shape of the bones.
This requires fracturing and reshaping so that a normal, aesthetically pleasing shape is restored.
Fracturing the bones is a very controlled and precise action.
This is a normal part of most rhinoplasties. You should not be worried about needing it, if you do.
The benefit of having it done will be maintaining a harmonious appearance of your nose. (John Diaz, MD, Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Nose bump
Filing down a small nasal hump or bump can be done without requiring nasal bone fracturing( breaking the bones). However, this is for very small humps. If the bump is large, the nose may look very flat. With this, in fracturing would be necessary. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Removing ‘nose bump” without fracture
I can count the cases on one hand in which I did’nt have to fracture the nose to remove a “nose bump”. This is done to reconcile the three dimensional relationships of the nose as it relates to the rest of the face.
If it is not done the nose can have a pugilistic or pushed in look. (Barry H. Dolich, MD, Bronx Plastic Surgeon)
Removing the Bump with rhinoplasty
I know it sounds great to do something “without having to break the nose”, but it is not really a choice in some cases. If you have a small bump, removing it may leave your nose looking normal – and then the bones do not need to be broken. If you have a large bump, the reduction may leave an overly wide bridge, or even an “open roof” where you might feel ridges on the top of your nose. The simple way to understand this is to consider a pyramid.
If you shave off the top, the width of the top part is no longer a point, but rather the width of the pyramid at the height of the shave. If it is too wide, you need to squeeze the side walls in to make the tip narrow again.
This is one of the reasons for breaking the nose – if the dorsum is too wide after the reduction, osteotomies are needed to allow the sidewalls to move in to narrow the dorsum. My advice is to visit a rhinoplasty surgeon, voice your concerns, and then listen to their reasoning and expectations after evaluating your anatomy. (Michael A. Bogdan, MD, FACS, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
Nasal Bump Removal with or without Breaking the Nose
Noses do not always have to be broken after nasal bump removal. But – they often do. The extent of the nose bump, its make up (how much is cartilaginous , how much is bone), what deformity would removal of the bump leave in the nose (the issue of the open roof deformity), the width of the nose before surgery and OTHER considerations ALL act to suggest if to fracture (ie osteotomize) the nose or not.
Even the way osteotomies (controlled chisel fractures) of the nose are done vary from surgeon to surgeon. Some are done wholly within the nose, others prefer to do them through tiny skin puncture wounds that heal invisibly. I would encorage you to see several nose surgeons and see what each one suggests. I would then ask them if this was their daughter’s nose – what would they suggest. If you hear the same coments from the vast majority – go with the surgeon with whom you feel the most comfortable. (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)
Removing Nose Bump Without Breaking
In some cases if the bump is small the bump may be filed down without any “breaking” of the nose.
However, if the bump is large there are several areas of the nose that can be incorporated such as the dorsum, the tip of the nose, and the base of the nose that may need some adjustments along with the filing of the hump to make the nose and all of its parts look symmetrical to the face. (Edward E. Dickerson, IV, MD, Fayetteville Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Filing down the nose without breaking the bones is possible if the bump is not very large and removal of the bump doesn’t make the bridge look too wide. If your nose is already average or wide and the bump is not small, it would be required to reposition (break in) the bony walls to make the bridge narrow (Sam Naficy, MD, Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Nasal hump removal
My answer is consistent with what other doctors have answered: A very small hump can be filed down without “infracturing the nose”.
If the hump is sizable and filed down without fracturing the nasal bones, the nose will appear too wide. Cost of rhinoplasty is highly regional and surgeon dependent. And thus has a wide price range. (Guy Lin, MD, Manhattan Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Hump Removal in Rhinoplasty
Although it may appear to be simple, a dorsal hump removal has many implications for the dorsum, as well as the tip of the nose.
Just removing a nasal hump has other implications and may or may not require narrowing of the nasal base. Also, if one has an open roof/widened dorsum then one may need to have osteotomies (or breaking of the nose) to close the open roof, but it all depends on the width of the nasal base or how large the hump is.
Obviously, this needs to be done by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Otolaryngologist with expertise and experience in rhinoplasty. (Rod J. Rohrich, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)
Nasal bones are reset when removing a large bump
If there is a large bump present, yes, nasal bones will have to be broken and reset because if you only file the bump down the nose will be left with a flat top and square top nose.
If there is a small bump present, yes, just filing the bump down may be enough and the bones do not need to be broken. In the majority of the Rhinoplasty surgeries, osteotomies are required due to the hump removal.
For many examples,please see the link below to our rhinoplasty photo gallery and price list (William Portuese, MD, Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon)
Subtle Rhinoplasty, Can a Nasal Hump be Removed Without “Breaking” the Nasal Bones
A small nasal hump may be removed without necessarily cutting or “breaking” the nasal bones. It really depends on the patients individual anatomy, and the surgeon’s training and experience in rhinoplasty.
In many practices it is termed “subtle or finesse” rhinoplasty. Many patients only require a small change, but are reluctant to consider rhinoplasty because they don’t want a completely different nose, or “the nose” that a particular surgeon is known for because the same surgical steps are followed for every patient.
Each nose is different, and each rhinoplasty needs to be planned and carried out uniquely. The cost will vary depending upon the surgeon and location. Choose your surgeon carefully. (Michael A. Persky, MD, Encino Facial Plastic Surgeon)