Many of us aren’t born with a perfectly sized nose. Noses that are too big are especially difficult, as they almost seem to take over your face, drawing attention away from your other features. Patients who have issues with their larger noses often complain about disproportion in their looks, frustration, and self-consciousness too. Typically, they might try to hide their noses in photos or skip being photographed altogether. Reduction rhinoplasties can provide comfort to these individuals by resizing their noses to better suit their other features. If you can’t stand your big nose anymore, it’s time to learn about how reduction rhinoplasty can help you to achieve the look you really want.

What Is Reduction Rhinoplasty?

A reduction rhinoplasty is one of two resizing techniques that can be used during nasal surgery; the other technique is called augmentation rhinoplasty, which involves enlarging a nose that is too small. Reduction rhinoplasty does exactly what it says: it reduces the size of the nose. When patients opt for this type of surgery, they can choose to reduce the overall size of the nose or concentrate on specific areas that need to become smaller, like the tip, a hump or bump, and more. During this process, the resizing is often done by removing cartilage and/or bone from the nose to achieve the desired shape and size.

How Do I Get Started With Reduction Rhinoplasty?

As with any surgical procedure, reduction rhinoplasty begins with a consultation between you and a board-certified facial plastic surgeon. At this one-on-one meeting, you’ll have the chance to discuss your nose, what you don’t like about it, what you do like about it, and what you’d like it to change about it. If you’re talking a lot about how big your nose is,your surgeon will know to start including reduction rhinoplasty techniques into his surgical plan for you.

During this consultation, the facial plastic surgeon will also examine your nose, measure the proportions of your facial features, and get an idea of the exact changes you desire. These steps allow him to design the right approach that will solve your problems and get you the results you really want. As you discuss your surgical plan, keep an open mind about what your surgeon has to say. If he suggests leaving your nose slightly larger than you’d like, don’t be too quick to dismiss him. Remember that he is basing his opinion on the actual proportions of your face as a whole, so he will be offering advice that can help you maintain facial balance. After all, a nose that is too small will draw just as much attention as a nose that is too big, so check your urges to cut back too much on size.

What Does the Reduction Rhinoplasty Procedure Involve?

Regardless of what you’re changing, most rhinoplasty surgeries are approached in a similar fashion. They all begin with incisions, either in the closed or open style. A closed or endonasalrhinoplasty starts with incisions placed inside the nostrils, where they won’t leave behind any visible stitches or scars. A surgeon will choose this approach to gain access to the underlying cartilage and bone structure in order to resize it as needed. In the open or external rhinoplasty procedure, a tiny incision is made on the underside of the nose just between the nostrils. While this will leave a small scar, the location makes it nearly impossible to see. The benefit to this approach is the access your surgeon will gain to the tip of the nose and the lower third of your nasal structure. It is an ideal approach used for refinement rhinoplasty, surgery concentrated on changing the nasal tip.

Regardless of where your incisions are placed, cartilage and/or bone will be removed to lessen the size of your nose. If you are only looking to reduce the size of certain aspects of your nose, like the nostrils or a hump, then this is where your surgeon will concentrate his or her efforts. Adjustments will be made in line with the surgical plan you discussed in your consultation until the desired result has been achieved. The skin on your nose won’t be trimmed down during this procedure, since it will shrink to its new size completely on its own. When your reduction rhinoplasty is finished, your nose will be more proportional to your other facial features and less likely to draw unwanted attention.

What If You Want to Change More Than the Size of Your Nose?

For many patients, the size of their nose isn’t the only source of distress and unhappiness. Such patients may also have issues with a bulbous or pointy tip, breathing troubles, crookedness, and other unwanted characteristics. If you want to make changes to the shape of your nose as well as the size, talk about this with your facial plastic surgeon to create a complete surgical plan that addresses each problem. While a true reduction rhinoplasty focuses on the size alone, there’s no reason that you can’t add on other techniques to achieve the complete new look that you’ve been hoping for. Your facial plastic surgeon can easily combine various techniques to deliver these desired results.

What Happens After Reduction Rhinoplasty Surgery?

A reduction rhinoplasty involves the same recovery timeframe and strategies of any type of rhinoplasty. Following your surgery, plan to experience swelling and discomfort for several days as the nose and tissues surrounding it begin to heal. As the healing process continues, you will see the bruising fade and the swelling subside. Gradually, your rhinoplasty results will emerge and you’ll be able to return to work, your regular activities, and all of the big events on your calendar.

Where Can I Start the Reduction Rhinoplasty Process?

To learn more about reduction rhinoplasty and how it may help you,consult with a recognized expert in facial plastic surgeryand guarantee your best results. Dr. Andrew Frankel is board certified in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (Ear Nose and Throat). He is exceptionally well trained in the field of nasal surgery and has been recognized for his original research regarding vasculature to the nose and rhinoplasty’s effect on it. Schedule your appointment today with a world-renowned facial plastic surgeon to guarantee your best rhinoplasty results. Contact Dr. Frankel’s office, located at 201 Lasky Drive in Beverly Hills, California, by calling (310) 552-2173.