Changing Nostril Shape
Premier Houston Rhinoplasty Surgeon Dr. Michel Siegel
The two most commonly requested changes in rhinoplasty patients are (1) removing a hump on the bridge of the nose, and (2) decreasing the roundness of a bulbous nose-tip area. However, the nostrils can have a major effect on the overall balance of your nose and face as a whole, and so many patients are interested in modifying the shape of their nostrils.
It’s important to keep in mind that there is no “ideal” nostril shape. Dr Siegel tends to think in terms of one’s unique facial structure and ethnic background, and what looks natural. The nostrils, just like the rest of the nose, should blend in with the rest of each person’s features.
The most common request is to reduce the flare of the nostrils. Usually, this involves removing skin from around the nostrils to narrow the overall width of the nose. An experienced rhinoplasty surgeon should be able to place the incisions in inconspicuous locations so no visible signs of surgery are present. Nostril-size reduction procedures should be performed carefully to achieve symmetry and prevent excess nostril narrowing, which will not only appear unnatural, but may also compromise the breathing function of the nose.
Reducing large nostrils may also refer to the vertical height, or how tall the nostrils would appear to someone looking the patient directly in the face. Making the nostrils shorter may involve adding cartilage to the sides of the rim, rather than removing fleshy tissue from the sides of the nose.
Some patients want to correct asymmetries. Although noses in general are not perfectly symmetrical, very uneven nostrils maybe the result of trauma or of previous surgery. In these cases, reconstructing the shape of the nostrils may be required to achieve better balance or symmetry.
Patients with noses that have poor tip support may have collapsed looking nostrils that may appear large and wide, or “floppy.” In these cases, nostrils tissue is not removed. Re-supporting the tip to create a more-defined nose will not only will rebalance the nose but will create nostrils that are more cosmetically appealing.
Changing the nostrils requires an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon to execute the proper technique and create nostrils that appear proportional and balanced without any obvious signs of surgery (e.g. the “Michael Jackson nose”). Only a specialist like Dr. Siegel has the experience and palette of techniques to provide you with the smallest amount of surgery you need to achieve your ideal look, and not a single slice more.
Note: Dr. Siegel specializes in preservation and ultrasonic rhinoplasty, both of which produce superior results. He is one of the few surgeons in the US experienced in these types of rhinoplasty. Find out more.
Why choose Dr. Michel Siegel for your rhinoplasty?
The success of your nose surgery depends above all on the nose surgeon you pick.
Rhinoplasty is not just another procedure offered by Dr. Siegel: It is his main focus. Dr. Siegel is a nose surgery specialist. He is double board certified by the only two boards certifying nose specialists (abohns.org and abfprs.org. Those certifications and his 20+ years of rhinoplasty experience, allow him to perform revision rhinoplasty to correct flaws in primary, secondary, and tertiary rhinoplasties.
More developments in rhinoplasty surgery have occurred in the last 15 years than in the previous 100. Your surgeon should be skilled in the best new techniques in nose surgery.
Dr. Siegel is one of the first surgeons in Texas and the country to be trained in Turkey, Europe, and Latin America in advanced surgical techniques for nose surgery. These techniques include ultrasonic rhinoplasty, which avoids breaking the bones as in traditional rhinoplasty, and preservation rhinoplasty, where the shape of the nose is changed by "preserving" the supportive structures of the nose with minimal bone and cartilage removal. This leads to faster healing and natural long-term outcomes in a shorter period.
Rhinoplasty is more than just a surgical procedure. It is a series of personal decisions, followed by a series of medical and aesthetic decisions. Dr. Siegel will work with you every step of the way. You will not be handed off to an assistant or a junior associate. We remain a small boutique practice providing not only exceptional surgical results and personalized care.
Find out even more about why to choose Dr. Siegel, or contact us to discuss your perfect look.
Houston’s Dr. Michel Siegel is one of the few surgeons in Houston and the US who specializes exclusively in nose and facial surgery. He also has significant experience with patients of all ethnic backgrounds, which matters if the goal is to attain a nose that looks just right on a unique person’s unique face, alongside other unique features.
He is also one of the relatively few nose surgeons experienced in both ultrasonic (AKA piezo) rhinoplasty and preservation rhinoplasty techniques, both of which can produce long-lasting results with less disruption, swelling, and bruising, and with a shorter recovery time.
Dr. Siegel’s decades of experience in nose surgery, combined with his aesthetic sense of balance, always shine through in a patient’s results. The results should not only be natural, but timeless. The nose should fit one’s face not only during the teenage years, but should also blend in with and develop alongside other facial features as a patient transitions from the teenage years to adulthood.
Dr. Siegel’s techniques afford the shortest-possible recovery, with no packing inside the nose (alleviating the pain associated with typical nose surgery), and minimal bruising due to his specialized technique.