KOWON Blog
Osteotomy for wide nasal bones — will a long face look longer? The width-length relationship
An answer on whether narrowing wide nasal bones via osteotomy makes the face look longer. Why reducing the nose's width makes the nose look longer, and a method that compensates by adjusting nose length together — organized.
Key points
- When the nose's width shrinks through osteotomy, the nose itself does look longer.
- Still, if the surgery also includes reducing the nose's actual length or slightly lifting the tip, the longer-looking effect can be reduced to a degree.
- Because judgment considering even face shape is hard from photos alone, discussing in detail in consultation with the doctor performing the surgery is good.
"My face is on the long side — if I slim the wide nasal bones with osteotomy, will my face look even longer?"
This is Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, director of KOWON Plastic Surgery specializing in noses. This article organizes a question posted by someone who has both wide nasal bones and a long face shape while weighing osteotomy — and the answer given. I hope it helps those curious how width-reducing surgery affects the impression of face shape.
01
From what concern did this question come?
The questioner's situation organizes like this.
- A face shape on the long side (not severe, but longer vertically than its width — especially the face's center)
- From the front the bridge looks absent and the nasal bones feel wide — so the nose looks low especially frontally rather than in profile
- The desired nose shape is a curved or straight-curved line
- Where the nasal bones protrude, pain is felt — perhaps from being pressed when wearing glasses or sunglasses
The core of the concern was one thing: if the nose is slimmed via dorsal osteotomy, will the face look longer because it feels separated — or will it be compensated because the cheek side gets highlighted when osteotomized? If the face would look longer, they said they had no intention of getting osteotomy.
02
Does narrowing nose width really make the nose look longer?
If the nose's width shrinks through osteotomy, the nose naturally looks longer. Because even at the same length, narrowing width produces a visual effect of looking relatively longer.
But it doesn't end there. As the nose surgery proceeds, through a process of reducing the nose's actual length or slightly lifting the tip, the longer-looking effect can be reduced to a degree. In other words, rather than thinking of width-reducing osteotomy alone, forming an overall plan including length adjustment leaves room to compensate for the effect being worried about.
| Surgical element | Visual effect |
|---|---|
| Width reduction via osteotomy | The nose looks relatively longer |
| Reducing the nose's actual length or slightly lifting the tip | The longer-looking effect is eased to a degree |
03
So is it okay to get osteotomy?
For the final judgment on whether the face will look longer, discussing in detail in consultation with the doctor who will perform the surgery helps — because the width-length relationship can be explained as a principle, but to what degree it appears in the actual face shape and nose state needs direct confirmation.
Especially in a case like the questioner's — a long face shape wanting a curved or straight-curved line — forming a plan viewing osteotomy and length-adjustment range together is what brings you closer to the desired impression. This kind of judgment can be discussed while directly viewing your current nose and face shape in a 1:1 video-call consultation.
04
Summary — first check whether the plan is width reduction alone
Narrowing wide nasal bones via osteotomy makes the nose look longer — that's the principle. But if a process of reducing the nose's actual length or slightly lifting the tip accompanies it, the longer-looking effect can be compensated to a degree. If you're hesitating over osteotomy because of a long face shape, I recommend confirming in consultation whether the plan is width reduction alone or one including length adjustment. Actual improvement cases can be seen in before-and-after photos.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
When the nose's width shrinks, the nose itself does look longer. Still, if the surgery also includes reducing the nose's actual length or slightly lifting the tip, this effect can be reduced to a degree.
Rather than a matter of avoiding osteotomy itself, it's a matter of planning width reduction and length adjustment together. How it will look in the face shape is helped by discussing in detail in consultation with the doctor who will operate.
The concern of the nose looking low and wide frontally is a part handled together in osteotomy planning. Still, what scope to operate must be judged after checking the actual nose state.
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.
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