Nasal Anatomy in Rhinoplasty
The Dorsum of the Nose
The dorsum is the area of the nose from the forehead to the tip. Patients can have complaints of both increased nasal width or decreased. Patients may also complain that the dorsum has a hump or bump on it. Similarly, patients may have a scooped out dorsum or a collapsed nasal vault. Finally, the superior most aspect of the dorsum may be too high or too low. All of the these items can be addressed with a rhinoplasty with Dr. Hughes.
The Nasal Tip
The tip is one of the most frequently disliked parts of a patient’s nose. For many the tip may be too big or bulbous or possibly too wide. This large tip can frequently be corrected with cartilage removal and suture techniques.
Some patients may complain of a tip that is too small or pinched. Sometimes these patients have breathing difficulties that must be corrected at the time of the surgery. Occasionally, the patient may require cartilage grafts to fix either the breathing problem, give more support, help with asymmetry, or improve tip projection. Sometimes, in nasal revision surgery, tip grafts may need to be removed among other maneuvers.
The tip may also be droopy or too low. Frequently, these patients will want the tip lifted to create a more refined look.
The Nasal Base
This is the area of the nostrils. Many, many patients have a great deal of nostril asymmetry that may be frequently unmasked when a tip is elevated or rotated upward. Very little can be done to improve the asymmetry of the nostrils. Dr. Hughes will point out if you have a great deal of nostril asymmetry.
The nostril size can be reduced to improve symmetry. Large nostrils or noses that appear too wide at the base can be reduced as well. Dr. Hughes frequently performs these procedures for Latin American and African American patients, although this procedure can be performed in any ethnicity.