Patients often consult with rhinoplasty surgeons to address a drooping nasal tip or droopy nose. They might notice this all the time, or sometimes only when they smile. In the age of social media, people are more critical of their profiles, and this often gives rise to insecurities over this feature. A drooping nasal tip, medically referred to as nasal tip ptosis or nasal tip ptosis, can be caused by several factors:
- Age: As people age, the structures of the nose, including cartilage and connective tissues, can weaken or lose elasticity, leading to a drooping appearance. In addition, the maxillary bone, the bone upon which the nose sits can become retrusive over time. As a result the tip loses support and starts to droop.
- Trauma or Injury: A nasal injury or trauma can damage the supportive structures of the nose, causing the nasal tip to droop. Oftentimes this is from prior rhinoplasty surgery.
- Genetics: Some individuals may inherit nasal structures that predispose them to nasal tip ptosis. Nasal tip ptosis is definitely more common in certain ethnicities, such as hispanics and eastern europeans.
- Previous Surgery: Prior nasal surgeries, especially rhinoplasty procedures, can sometimes result in nasal tip ptosis if the supporting structures are not adequately addressed during the surgery.
- Weak Cartilage: Weakness or malformation of the lower lateral cartilages, which provide support to the nasal tip, can lead to drooping. Also, an absence of a long enough septum, which gives nasal support, can cause drooping.
- Septal Deviation: Deviation of the nasal septum can affect the support and alignment of the nasal tip, contributing to drooping.
How Do You Treat A Drooping Nasal Tip?
Treatment for a drooping nasal tip typically generally requires surgery. Fillers give limited support to a tip and can only partially camoflauge the problem. The cause of the tip droop is always lack of structural support, therefore, a surgery that can give structural support is necessary. This support can be added surgically by the usage of cartilage grafts, usually obtained from the nasal septum. However, in some cases, cartilage from the ear or ribs may be necessary. This is why it is important to choose an excellent open rhinoplasty surgeon.
Choose a Rhinoplasty Expert?
It is important that you choose a Plastic Surgeon experienced in rhinoplasty surgery. Rhinoplasty surgery is a field all in itself. It is considered by many Plastic Surgeons to be the most difficult of all procedures. To be proficient in rhinoplasty requires a very specific skill set and a prolific knowledge of rhinoplasty techniques. It is a finesse surgery that takes time and a commitment to perfection. Patients should be wary of any surgeon who simply does an “add on” rhinoplasty at the time of septoplasty. Excellent rhinoplasty results take 3-4 hours to achieve.
Dr. David Graham is a rhinoplasty expert. He is a member of the both the American Rhinoplasty Society and Rhinoplasty Society of Europe. He has pursued advanced training with the world’s finest rhinoplasty surgeons, such as Dean Toriumi, Rod Rohrich, Mario Ferraz, and Rick Davis. In addition to traveling all over the US to hone his craft, he has traveled to Italy and Germany to study with the world’s best surgeons. As a result, he is at the forefront of rhinoplasty techniques, including the usage of ultrasonic rhinoplasty. He performs both primary and revision rhinoplasty procedures out of his state of the art surgical suite.
Contact Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, David Graham, MD, in Rochester, New York
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Dr. Graham receives patients from Rochester, Victor, Fairport, Pittsford, Brighton, Irondequoit, Henrietta, Syracuse, Buffalo, New York and surrounding areas.
