TYPE 03 — Short & Upturned Nose
Short & Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty
How is a short or upturned nose corrected?
Surgery that lowers the tip so the nostrils show less. Your own cartilage (septal, ear or rib) supports the tip from below.
Who this is for
- A nose whose nostrils are clearly visible from the front
- An upturned tip that makes the mid-face look short
- A tip pulled upward after previous nose surgery (contracture)
A note from Dr. Kim Hyung-taek
Because this type is so common among Korean and East Asian patients, it is the case I see most often in the clinic.
Bringing the tip down matters as much for retention as for the surgery itself. A beautiful result that does not last is pointless.
I build a structure in which the columella is firmly supported by cartilage, fixing the tip so it cannot ride back up.
Simple cartilage cinching or stacking often looks long enough at first, then rides up and shortens again after a few months.
That said, patients with short, tight skin must not be greedy. How far the tip can come down is decided not by me but by your skin.
So during consultation I gently pull on the tip skin myself to tell you how much is feasible.
And the degree of lowering must be planned together with the nasolabial angle — the angle between nose and upper lip — for proper balance.
— Kim Hyung-taek
How the surgery works
STEP 01
Tip cartilage graft
septal + ear cartilage → rib cartilage (autologous or donor), chosen by the support needed
STEP 02
Build a cartilage strut under the tip, then redirect it downward
STEP 03
Combine bridge augmentation if the bridge is low
Recovery
Recovery varies slightly depending on the scope of surgery and combined techniques. Below is the typical course.
- Day 3
Shower
If rib cartilage was used, showering is possible from day 3.
- Day 5
Stitch removal
Stitches come out on day 7 if rib cartilage was used.
- During recovery
No earphones on donor ear
If ear cartilage was harvested, do not use earphones on that ear during recovery.
- During recovery
No touching tip or blowing nose
Until the lowered tip settles, avoid touching the tip and blowing your nose.
Featured surgery cases
See real surgical records for this type in the surgery log.
Before & after by type
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Before & after photos are available after login
BeforeAfter구축코재수술 
BeforeAfterLong nose · Drooping tip · Short nose 
BeforeAfterBulbous tip · Short nose · Nasal shape · Wide nasal alae 
BeforeAfterBulbous tip · Low bridge · Short nose · Upturned nose 
BeforeAfterBulbous tip · Low bridge · Short nose · Upturned nose 
BeforeAfterBulbous tip · Short nose
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.
Frequently asked questions
Once the tip comes down, the nostrils show less and the impression calms. It feels less like lengthening and more like the upturned tip returning to its proper place.
It is harvested from behind the ear, so the outer shape is unaffected. Just avoid pressing that ear while it heals.
It depends on how much skin laxity you have. Rather than promising a number, we show you the feasible range on simulation during consultation.
Consultation
Short & Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty
Dr. Kim Hyung-taek takes personal responsibility from diagnosis through surgery and aftercare.
Book a 1:1 consultationOutcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.