Rhinoplasty: Cost, Pics, Reviews, Q&A

You have very thick skin and this will cover the cartilage framework. You can get good result and make sure your plastic surgeon is comfortable with with your expectations. (Kamran Khoobehi, MD, New Orleans Plastic Surgeon)

The thicker the nose skin, the more difficult to get a great result. Ther problem is that the skin needs to show the definition of the supporting structures-cartilage and bone. If the skin is too thick, the definition will be lost.

Think about the difference between a sheet and a blanket draped over someone. Good definition with the sheet. Poor definition with the blanket. Thick nasal skin is like the blanket. (E. Anthony Musarra II, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Is It Difficult to Get Better Results when the Nose is Thick?

Yes, the thick skin prevents good redraping over the cartilagenous structures unless adequate thinning is done. This is not very popular with many surgeons but is the only way to get an adequate redraping. Post op steroid injection is a must. (Mohsen Tavoussi, MD, DO, Huntington Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Thick skin rhinoplasty

The fundamental premise of rhinoplasty is the by reshaping the structural components such as cartilage and bone the skin will follow and shoe the desired result.

The thicker the skin the more difficult it is to get this to happen (David A. Bray, Sr., MD, Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Rhinoplasty & Thick Skin

Surgery rhinoplasty thick skin

Rhinoplasty in a patient with thick skin is a completely different operative procedure. It is much more challenging as one has to do a different operative procedure in the underlying nasal framework. However, this works very well in the hands of an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon. Please choose your rhinoplasty surgeon carefully as this is the most complicated operative procedure we do in aesthetic surgery. (Rod J. Rohrich, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

Rhinoplasty for Thick Nose

There are both advantages and disadvantages to having thick nasal skin. The disadvantage is it becomes more difficult to achieve refined results, but the advantage is that little imperfections are not visible. To achieve aesthetic results with thick skin, the surgeon must take extra steps to create definition, but the experienced surgeon can do that. (Jeffrey Epstein, MD, FACS, Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Nasal surgery with thicker skin

Rhinoplasty thick skin photos before

In a word, yes, it is more difficult to achieve certain effects with thicker skin; it is a “double-edged sword”, thicker skin can hide certain imperfections and defects, but it is also more difficult to project the underlying improvements through the thicker skin. This however should not discourage you, as you can still realize nice improvements about the dorsum and the tip; sometimes ironically it is advantageous to add some tissue or grafts to alter the relationships about a larger thicker nose to change its appearance and make it “look smaller”.

Seek out several opinions from experienced rhinoplastic surgeons, and make sure you understand their approach and tentative operative plan. Also, you did not mention if you had any difficulty breathing through your nose, but if the septum ( the cartilage-bony structure which divides the nostrils) is crooked or deviated, this could be addressed at the same time. Also if the “hump removal from the dorsum of your nose is significant, your surgeon may need to consider some manuevers to ensure that the nasal breathing is not adversely affected. (Jerry Lugger, MD, Southlake Plastic Surgeon)

Noses, thick and thin.

Rhinoplasty nose job thick skin

Thin skin noses are easy to reduce (make smaller). Thick skin noses are easier to build up (make more shapely). Your nose needs both. The sides need to be reduced (made thinner) and that’s easy. The tip needs to be reshaped (made more sculpted) and that’s harder. The trick is to use a bridge filler of some sort or you will get a super tip deformity. That’s the key problem with thick skinned noses. This bridge filler may be an implant, or your own tissue. I think that you will get a good result if you want a good looking nose that is not too small. (Ayman Hakki, MD, Waldorf Plastic Surgeon)

Is It Difficult to Get Better Rhinoplasty Surgery Results when the Nose has Thick Skin?

In general the thicker the nasal skin, the less refinement you can have. The benefit is that some imperfections won’t show. You need measures to make your nose more triangular (more aesthetic) with profile adjustment and tip support.

Nose job thick skin

Your nose is not one that should be performed by the occasional rhinoplasty surgeon. Choose carefully. (Ramtin Kassir, MD, Wayne Facial Plastic Surgeon)

Rhinoplasty Results with Thick Nasal Skin

A link and video are included below (click on “more). It is possible to get good results when the nasal skin is thick. Thicker skin is normally found on the lower third of the nose. Difficulty arises when a delicate refined tip is desired. The skin is supported by cartilage at the tip. The fine details of the supporting structure are lost when it is draped with thick skin; however, it is still possible to reduce the size of the tip. The skin is not usually thick higher on the nose so reducing a upper nasal bump (dorsal hump) seen on profile is not impaired. (Joseph Mele, MD, Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon)