What Makes a Wide Nose Rhinoplasty Different?

Everyone should love what they see when looking in the mirror. However, if you’re unhappy with the shape of your nose, it can affect how you see yourself. Your nose serves as a focal point of your face, so when its proportion is off, your appearance can appear asymmetrical or unbalanced.  Rhinoplasty, also known as a “nose job,” is among the most popular types of cosmetic surgery.  While most people think of rhinoplasty to correct a bump or bulbous appearance of the nose, wide nose rhinoplasty, offered at Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery in Bethesda, MD, corrects the broadness of the nose for those who hope to achieve a more contoured look. 

What Is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to change the shape and size of a patient’s nose. It can improve the nose’s proportion and balance relative to the rest of the face. There are several concerns a skilled surgeon can address with rhinoplasty:
  • Wide nose
  • Overall size of a more prominent nose
  • Bumps on the nose
  • Long nasal tip
  • Bulbous nasal tip
  • Asymmetrical nose
  • Small nasal passages
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, rhinoplasty can improve a patient’s overall appearance with natural-looking results.

How Is Wide Nose Rhinoplasty Different?

Typically, a nose appears wider when the nasal bridge lacks height. While nose shapes are genetic, an injury or prior rhinoplasty can also cause a nose to appear disproportionately wide. The shape of the nose depends on the nasal bone that forms a pyramid starting at the bridge. To reshape the nose and narrow it, we need to fracture the pyramid to make smaller pieces that can move into place. The fractures are precisely crafted to thin the nose. This surgical procedure is called an osteotomy.

Types of Rhinoplasty for Wide Noses

During a rhinoplasty, wide noses are reshaped using a medial or lateral osteotomy, or both. A medial osteotomy creates minor fractures in the middle area at the top of the nose. In contrast, a lateral osteotomy targets the nasal septum’s longer outer sections. After making the fractures, we reshape the nose to move pieces closer and form a narrower nasal structure. In a wide nose rhinoplasty, this step can vary depending on how we adjust your nose shape. There are three main types of rhinoplasty for wide noses: open, closed, and bulbous. 

Open Rhinoplasty for Wide Noses

During open rhinoplasty, wide noses are narrowed through incisions between the nostrils under the tip of the nose. We employ open wide nose rhinoplasty for noses that require a more thorough restructuring since the procedure allows for better visibility and access to the nasal bones.

Closed Rhinoplasty for Wide Noses

During a closed rhinoplasty, wide noses are reshaped through incisions inside the nostrils. We perform closed wide nose rhinoplasty for noses that require minor restructuring due to this technique’s limited access and visibility. 

Bulbous Nose Rhinoplasty

A “bulbous” nose refers to a ball shape at the end of the nose. Causes of a bulbous nose include the following: 
  • Excessive cartilage
  • Extra space between cartilage zones
  • Poorly defined cartilage
  • Overlying soft tissue
When a patient’s nose is wide at the tip instead of the bridge, we can reform the shape using a tip plasty, or bulbous nose rhinoplasty. A bulbous nose rhinoplasty can be either open or closed.  Depending on the reason for the bulbous tip, we can either implant new cartilage on the tip to sharpen its appearance, reposition existing cartilage, reduce the cartilage, or tie the cartilage closer. All of these methods refine the nose’s tip to create a better contour. 

Does a Wide Nose Rhinoplasty Leave Scars?

Since we place the small incision inside or between the nostrils, the incisions should not be visible. However, you can help the healing process by avoiding smoking, refraining from alcohol before and after your procedure, and avoiding strenuous exercise until we recommend that you can resume these activities. 

What to Expect from Rhinoplasty for Wide Noses

All of our rhinoplasty procedures begin with a surgical consultation. In your consultation, we’ll discuss the following:
  • Your medical history
  • Your surgical goals
  • Nose surgery options
  • Your expected results
We will also examine and measure your face, take photographs, and answer any questions you have.  The procedure typically lasts one to three hours. After your rhinoplasty, you’ll recover for about an hour before returning home with light nasal packing. You’ll remain in close contact with our team as you recover, returning to our offices the day after your procedure to track your initial results and evaluate your early healing. While most patients feel ready to resume their normal activities about ten days after their wide nose rhinoplasty, we recommend limiting strenuous exercises or any contact sports for two to three weeks. We provide patients with specific instructions about when they can resume certain activities. Within a couple of weeks, most swelling will recede, and you’ll begin to enjoy the shape and function of your nose’s transformation. It can take up to a year for the new contour of your nose to refine. The changes that develop between one month and a year post-surgery are very gradual, and the results are permanent. 

Skilled Wide Nose Rhinoplasty Surgeons

Choosing a rhinoplasty for wide noses is an exciting and nerve-racking decision. Allow yourself to trust in the board-certified facial plastic surgeons at Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery in Bethesda, MD.  We focus on detailed, compassionate care as we restore balance and symmetry to your facial features through rhinoplasty. Schedule your consultation today.