While the shape of your nose is usually the result of heredity; the appearance may have been altered in an injury or during prior surgery.

Also known as rhinoplasty, surgery of the nose improves the appearance and proportion of your nose, enhancing facial harmony and self confidence. Surgery of the nose may also correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects in the nose.

Rhinoplasty can change:

• Nose size, in relation to facial balance
• Nose width, at the bridge or in the size and position of the nostrils
• Nose profile, with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
• Nasal tip, that is enlarged or bulbous, drooping, upturned or hooked
• Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned
• Nasal asymmetry

Procedural steps: Incisions hidden at the nostril base and/or inside the nose allow access to reshape underlying cartilage and/or bone. This may include lowering humps, narrowing of nasal bones, shaping of the nasal tip or nostril size and improving the angle between the nose and the upper lip.

This procedure also can correct breathing difficulties caused by structural irregularities.

Your results: You should see a change within 6-8 weeks following surgery, with continued refinement for 6-12 months. Cartilage is a flexible and growing tissue, therefore results following surgery are not fully predictable.