Doctor, I'm concerned about my bulbous tip,
Would it be okay to only do nasal tip cartilage suturing?
This is a common question when considering first-time rhinoplasty.
You may feel burdened by the idea of making major changes to the nasal bridge, and if possible, you might just want to refine the wide-looking nasal tip a little.
However, even if it looks like a bulbous tip on the outside, the causes can be different.
In some cases, the issue can be addressed simply by bringing the cartilages together, but in others, you need to consider the skin, soft tissue, or even the supporting structures of the nasal tip.
This is why, before considering the surgical scope, you need to distinguish why your nose appears wide.
Table of Contents
1. Why the bulbous tip appears wide is not just due to cartilage
2. What should we look at to determine if nasal tip cartilage suturing alone is sufficient?
3. If suturing alone is not enough, what other structures should we examine?
The reason the bulbous tip appears wide
is not just due to cartilage
Reasons why the bulbous tip appears wide
"Since the nasal tip is wide, wouldn't it be enough to just bring the separated cartilages together?"
In fact, if the main cause is a wide gap between the alar cartilages, then nasal tip cartilage suturing can be considered as a primary approach.
However, even if the nose looks similarly wide on the outside, there may be more than one underlying cause.
Reasons for appearing wide
Areas to examine
Nasal tip cartilage is widely separated
How the width changes when the cartilages are brought together
Thick skin and soft tissue
How much the internal contour can be revealed externally
Influence of nasal tip support structures and overall proportions
Whether refining only the nasal tip is sufficient
Especially, if the skin and underlying tissue are thick, even if the cartilages are brought together, the sharp lines you expect may not appear.
However, simply removing a lot of tissue is not the solution either.
You must also consider the structures that maintain blood flow and the shape of the nasal tip to determine the necessary extent.
In reality, there are also cases where more than one cause, such as cartilage separation and tissue thickness, are present together.
Therefore, it is difficult to decide on a method just by looking at the external appearance of a bulbous tip.
To determine if nasal tip cartilage suturing alone is sufficient,
what should we look at?
Bulbous tip noses suitable for nasal tip cartilage suturing
"Then, would it be okay for me to only have the nasal tip sutured?"
If the main cause of the bulbous tip is cartilage separation, then you can consider bringing both nasal tip cartilages toward the center to refine the wide appearance from the front.
However, in the consultation room, we do not look at only the width of the nasal tip.
We also examine the following aspects:
• Is the wide gap between the cartilages the main cause?
• Is the skin and underlying tissue excessively thick?
• Are the supporting structures of the nasal tip stable?
• Does the nasal tip spread or move downward significantly when smiling?
• Will the desired change result in a naturally refined appearance?
How to bring together a wide and round nasal tip
If cartilage separation is the main cause and the influence of skin thickness or support structures is not significant, you can focus on nasal tip cartilage suturing as the main approach.
On the other hand, if multiple factors are involved, simply thinking about "how much to suture" may not be sufficient.
Especially, if you have a bulbous tip with a lot of tissue and heaviness, you also need to consider how much the current structure can support the newly shaped nasal tip.
This is why we examine not only the front view, but also the tissue thickness and support when feeling the nasal tip, and its movement during facial expressions.
If nasal tip cartilage suturing alone is insufficient,
what other structures should we examine?
Bulbous tip nasal bridge surgery
"If we need to look at other areas, does that mean I have to get nasal bridge surgery as well?"
Not necessarily.
Examining additional structures is different from simply expanding the surgical scope.
If the nasal tip lacks support, you should consider not only bringing the cartilages together but also how to support the new shape.
On the other hand, for the nasal bridge, rather than changing it just because it is low, you should assess the height in relation to the nasal tip and the overall facial proportions.
If you are researching Gangnam Rhinoplasty Clinic, it is helpful to see what explanations you receive for the following questions, rather than just comparing surgery names.
1. What is the main reason my bulbous tip appears wide?
2. To what extent can I expect changes with only nasal tip cartilage suturing?
3. If other methods are being considered, what is the reason?
Hearing an explanation about your own structure first makes it much easier to decide how much needs to be addressed.
Q. If I have a bulbous tip and undergo nasal tip cartilage suturing, will the shape of my nostrils change as well?
As the position and shape of the nasal tip cartilage change, the shape of the nostrils as seen from below may also change to some extent.
However, it is problematic to think of this as being the same as reducing the width of the alar base itself.
Because the current nostril shape varies depending on how much it is related to the spreading of the nasal tip cartilage, it is better to consider changes to the nasal tip and alar base separately.
If you thought, due to a bulbous tip, that you only want to refine the nasal tip a little, there is no need to assume a major change from the start.
Conversely, you also do not need to decide in advance that a minor method will be sufficient for your nose just because it is less invasive.
Rather than focusing on whether nasal tip cartilage suturing can be done,
consider whether your bulbous tip has a structure that can be sufficiently improved just by bringing the cartilage together. I hope you will consider this criterion first.
Hyung-taek Kim, Chief Director of KOWON Plastic Surgery
I always provide consultations with this mindset.
A nose that suits your face, designed together with you
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KOWON Plastic Surgery
2nd Floor, KBL Center, 110 Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
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This procedure/surgery may cause side effects such as bleeding, infection, swelling, or asymmetry depending on the individual. Please consult with medical staff for accurate information before making a decision.
— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery