Rhinoplasty: Cost, Pics, Reviews, Q&A

Rhinoplasty small nose is one of the more difficult procedures for a surgeon to master. In most cases a significant aesthetic change can be achieved.

There might be a number of reasons why your surgeon can not deliver to you the result you desire. Most likely it has to do with your specific nasal structures.

The goals of nasal surgery is to create a beautiful nose with nice proportions, not necessarily make nose as small as possible

In my practice we offer computer imaging to our prospective rhinoplasty patients, so that the goals and aspirations of the patients can be communicated.

Of course not all surgeons that can created changes on the computer can produce those changes in the operating room. Pick you rhinoplasty surgeon carefully.

You might find it insightful to read my article “The Art of Sculpting the Nose” which can be found on my web site under “publications” (Boris M. Ackerman, MD, Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon)

Need for skin redraping limits nose size reduction

It sounds like your skin thickness is limiting how dramatic of nasal reduction your surgeon can perform. Surgeons must balance the ideal down-sizing of a nose with the anticipated ability for the skin to take on this new volume.

When the nasal framework is made smaller you still have the same amount of skin that has to redrape over it (no skin is removed during the surgery).

Rhinoplasty small nose photo

Luckily, thanks to scar contracture, the skin will “shrink wrap” to some extent around this new, smaller nose over time. The thicker your skin, however, the less this can occur. If your nose is over-reduced you can be left with an amorphous nasal tip from this excess skin. (Thomas A. Lamperti, MD, Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Making the nose smaller

There are limits to changing the nose based on where you start with your anatomy and ethnicity. Trying to create a really small nose will likely result in an unnatural, collapsed look which will appear deformed and fake. Trust the consult of a qualified surgeon and appreciate the limitations. (Talmage J. Raine, MD, FACS, Champaign Plastic Surgeon)

How small can a nose be made?

Surgery rhinoplasty small nose

There are technical limits to the reduction possible with Rhinoplasty. The overlying skin is often the limiting factor. Your skin can only shrink so much. If this limit is breached, the skin cannot redrape over the underlying nasal structures. This can cause a poor looking result.

Another issue is the underlying cartilage and bone. If these are removed excessively, the function of your nose can be compromised. Its the skill and experience of your surgeon who can tell how much is safe and to tell you what your limits in nasal improvement are. (Oakley Smith, MD, Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Limits of how small I can make a nose

Every nose has limits of how big or small it can be made. The limit is based on the soft tissue envelope of the nose (the skin). Imagine the skin of the nose being like a dress, and the underlying nasal structure like a person’s body.

Rhinoplasty for small nose

If you placed too small of a body on a thick, large dress, you would have excess material. Likewise, in a rhinoplasty making the nose too small can lead to a pollybeak deformity where excess bulk is seen in the tip. A surgeon with extensive experience will work with your nose to create one which fits with your facial features. (Anil R. Shah, MD, Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon)

The smaller is not always better in rhinoplasty

Most patients come into the office requesting a smaller nose. In reality what they desire is a more balanced appearance to the nose. This may be done by a variety of techniques. After surgery they may say “my nose is much smaller now” in reality the nose may be only slightly “smaller” or even the same size. (Robert Mounsey, MD, Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon)