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If the nose is wide, is alar reduction absolutely necessary for bulbous tip surgery?

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Because my nose has a blunt nasal tip and spreads out to alar base / nostril wing ,
Do I need to have alar reduction done at the same time as the surgery?

Among those looking into bulbous tip surgery, many attribute the reason their nose looks big to alar base / nostril wing .

In reality, it is difficult to determine on your own where to fix because nasal tip cartilage and skin thickness have a combined effect.

Today, I will talk about whether to look at nasal tip , alar base / nostril wing first when you are concerned about a wide nose.

Why does bulbous tip form?

bulbous tip Is This is a nose where nasal tip cartilage is spread out to the sides or the skin nasal tip is thick, making nasal tip appear round and wide.

It is also the most common type among Asians and Koreans.

Typical cases include when nasal bridge is fine but the entire nose looks dull due to nasal tip , or when the contour of nasal tip is not clearly visible because the skin is thick.

If the cause is separated cartilage, the surgical approach differs towards bringing the cartilage together, whereas if the cause is thick skin, the approach differs towards supporting nasal tip to create the contour.

bulbous tip surgery is
In what order does it proceed?

bulbous tip correction is a surgery that clarifies the contour of nasal tip by addressing the causes that make nasal tip blunt.

Instead of reducing alar base / nostril wing first, we proceed by shaping nasal tip first and then determining the remaining part.

1. Gather and tidy up the separated nasal tip cartilage.

2. Using one of nasal septum , ear, or costal cartilage a nasal tip cartilage graft is performed to support nasal tip and create the contour.

3. If the skin is thick and there is a lot of flesh, trim the soft tissue.

4. If alar base / nostril wing spreading remains even after erecting nasal tip , alar reduction is performed in conjunction.

Widening nose is alar reduction
Do we really have to do it together?

They say it's a spreading nose You do not have to do alar reduction from the beginning.

Many people find that alar base / nostril wing narrow along with nasal tip alar reduction There are also many cases where it is not necessary.

For a significant number of people concerned about alar base / nostril wing the cause is actually a low nasal tip .

If you are planning nasal tip surgery, you can arrange nasal tip first, and it is not too late to decide on alar base / nostril wing after seeing the results.

Conversely, since reducing only alar base / nostril wing while nasal tip is low makes the nose appear smaller, we examine nasal tip as well, even if the concern is solely alar base / nostril wing .

Even when alar reduction is necessary, it is important to distinguish between cases where alar base / nostril wing is spread and cases where nostril is enlarged.

division

Spread alar base / nostril wing

big nostril

The visible appearance

From the front, alar base / nostril wing is wider than the inner width of the eye.

nostril is clearly visible from the front.

Areas to reduce

alar base / nostril wing outer fold

nostril inner floor

If you confuse the spread alar base / nostril wing with the large nostril , only nostril will appear small and look cramped.

If reduced too much, it looks artificial and changes the sensation of breathing, so alar reduction is determined based on nasal tip and face rather than a fixed numerical value.

Even bulbous tip with thick skin
Is the surgery effective?

Even bulbous tip with thick skin bulbous tip surgery It is effective.

However, since the surgical outcome of bulbous tip is heavily influenced by skin thickness, It is correct to expect the bluntness to be refined and the contours to be formed, rather than a sharp and pointed nasal tip .

If the skin of nasal tip feels thick when pinched with a finger, the surgery focuses on supporting nasal tip to establish the contour rather than gathering the cartilage.

You can minimize disappointment by making a decision while knowing that the expected shape varies depending on skin thickness.

Recovery after bulbous tip surgery
How long does it take?

swelling of bulbous tip tends to last longer than other nose types, and it lasts longer the thicker the skin.

The general recovery process is divided by stage and varies slightly depending on the surgical scope and technique used; during follow-up visits, swelling is managed with a laser.

period

recovery process

Day 5

Suture removal (7th day if combined with alar reduction or costal cartilage)

2~3 weeks

The large swelling subsided

2 months

Avoid touching or pressing nasal tip

6 months to 1 year

The contour of nasal tip gradually becomes clearer

Rather than judging the results based solely on the shape immediately after surgery, it is better to wait and observe nasal tip contour as it settles.

When looking into bulbous tip surgery
What should I check?

bulbous tip surgery is a procedure where you must determine what to change first by examining nasal tip cartilage, skin thickness, and alar base / nostril wing together.

Because whether alar reduction is necessary varies from person to person, even for the same spreading nose, The criterion for judgment is how specifically you explain whether alar reduction is necessary.

• Whether to explain separately which is the cause: nasal tip , alar base / nostril wing

• Whether you can make a decision after hearing the reason why alar reduction is needed

• Does the director who made the diagnosis personally perform the surgery?

• Whether the surgical process can be verified, such as through the disclosure of CCTV footage during the surgery

If nasal tip is blunt and alar base / nostril wing looks spread out, you will likely feel upset because your entire nose looks big every time you look in the mirror.

So, it is natural to want to reduce a lot at once.

However, I think it is important to first determine whether alar base / nostril wing does not need to be reduced, rather than how much to reduce it.

This is because there are many people whose alar base / nostril wing , which appeared spread out, come in together even when only nasal tip is trimmed.

I hope this article serves as a small guide as you go through the reasons why my nose looks round, one by one.

Hyung-taek Kim Chief Director of KOWON Plastic Surgery Clinic

I always treat patients with this mindset.

We will help you find the nose that suits your face.

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This procedure/surgery may cause side effects such as bleeding, infection, swelling, and asymmetry depending on the individual. Please consult with medical staff for accurate information before making a decision.

— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery