The human nose is one of the first things most people notice on the face of another. Not only does your nose serve an aesthetic purpose to balance out your face, but your nose is pretty darn essential to the function of your everyday existence.
Whether you struggle with functional issues, such as a deviated septum, or harbor an insecurity about how your nose looks, this is where rhinoplasty comes in. Learn more about the different types of rhinoplasty on offer today if you’re considering a functional or cosmetic adjustment.
Functional Rhinoplasty
It’s worth noting that not all rhinoplasty procedures require invasive surgery. For example, if you’re looking to fix a droopy tip of the nose, there are non-surgical options. However, when it comes to functional issues, especially internal problems, this may require surgery.
Functional rhinoplasty aims to correct physical abnormalities that affect the way you breathe. Sometimes these abnormalities are a result of congenital defects or trauma to the face. Most functional rhinoplasty procedures re-contour the shape and layout of the cartilage and bones in your nose. The end-goal is to create fully-functional nasal contours that allow you to breathe freely, without obstruction.
When it comes to functional rhinoplasty, there are two forms of surgical technique — either open or closed. Open surgery involves incisions on the outside of the nose. Closed surgery is where a surgeon reshapes your nose from the inside. In order to avoid scarring, most surgeons opt for a closed technique.
Cosmetic Types of Rhinoplasty
In some cases, your nose may perform its functional duties fine and well, but you may be unhappy with the shape, size, or width of your nose. This is where cosmetic rhinoplasty is a game-changer.
When you visit a surgeon, they will do a throughout evaluation of your nose, dividing the area up into three main sections. These include the upper or bony vault, the middle vault, and the lower vault. In order to achieve your desired end-look, your surgeon may have to work on one vault, two vaults, or even three vaults at a time. However, this depends on what you’re trying to correct.
Some of the most common variations of cosmetic rhinoplasty include:
- Straightening Out a Crooked Nose
This procedure is pretty self-explanatory. But if the nose is crooked, or pointed more towards one side of the face, correction is simple. A surgeon removes bone and cartilage or physically shifts some of the tissue to straighten out the nose.
A splint is generally used to hold the nose in place while it heals.
- Radix Correction
The radix is the spot at the very top of the nose and is the thin, bony area that is sometimes enlarged. This then creates a bump at the top of the nose. The radix can also be shallow, which creates a hollow area or depression, as well as a bump at the top of the nose.
In order to correct the radix, a surgeon shaves away small portions of the bone to even it out. Conversely, a surgeon adds volume to a hollow area of the radix with cartilage, harvested from other areas of the nose.
- Rotation and Reduction of the Nose Tip
Rotation of the nose means that your nose tip is able to move freely in an upward or downward motion. But if the tip of the nose is pronounced or lacks definition, this can hinder rotation.
A surgeon is able to correct this by reshaping the cartilage in the nose. They will focus on the base of the nose, as this is the area that impacts tension and rotation of the tip. If the nose tip is very pronounced or ”bulbous”, a surgeon adjusts the size and shape by removing or reshaping the cartilage in the area.
- Adjustment of the Nasolabial Angle
The nasolabial angle measures from the tip of the nose to the upper lip, as well as from the upper lip to the bottom of the nose, where the nostrils connect. If you are unhappy with this angle, this can easily be adjusted.
Generally, a surgeon aims to achieve a nasolabial adjustment of a 90-95 degree angle for men and a 100-105 degree angle for women.
- Adjustment of the Alar
If you have overly wide, flared, or pronounced nostrils, a surgeon is able to adjust this with a simple technique.
The outer edges of the nostrils, known as the ala, are reduced in size to make the nose more symmetrical. A portion of tissue is removed, or a surgeon adjusts the level of tension of the ala to reduce nostril flare.
- Reduction of the Width of the Nose
If the bottom half of your nose is particularly flat and wide, this can be adjusted by changing the pyriform aperture. This is the area of the nose that forms a triangle when viewed from underneath — from the edge of the nostrils to the tip of the nose.
By changing the angles of this triangle i.e. where the nostrils meet the face, a surgeon can reduce the width of the nose.
- Narrowing or Straightening the Bridge of the Nose
The bridge of the nose is the central part of the nose that is sometimes pronounced due to extra cartilage in the area. This can create the look of an overly wide, or hooked nose shape when viewing your profile. Conversely, the bridge of the nose can also dip inwards, creating a hollow, and a bump.
The shape of the bridge of the nose can evened out by shaving away cartilage in the area.
Learn How to Live Your Best and Healthy Life
Whether your issue is functional or cosmetic, there are numerous types of rhinoplasty to suit your needs. The key is finding the right surgeon for your specific requirements. Make sure to do your research and don’t just settle for the cheapest option!
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