Nose projection is the distance that it protrudes outwards from the point where it connects the upper lip to its tip. If the tip protrudes excessively, it can affect the overall appearance of the nose significantly.
A nose that is under-projected, on the other hand, appears too shallow causing it to look too small in comparison to other features of the face.
A nose surgeon can trim away a portion of the cartilage at the nasal tip to decrease its projection. To increase the nasal projection, the surgeon may separate and realign the cartilage of the nose. They will move it forward and suture it into a refined position. If the cartilage in the nasal tip is insufficient, the surgeon may use a cartilage graft to build it up.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and surrounding locations.
Correcting an Over Projected Nose
Individuals with over projected noses can receive corrective cosmetic surgery involving trimming of the cartilage at the nasal tip. The surgery moves the nasal tip back to offer it a more attractive appearance. This is also called nasal de-projection or retro-displacement.
Addressing an Under Projected Nose
To re-project a nose which is under-projected, the surgeon will need to extend the nose cartilage. This can be achieved via two approaches depending on the nose structure.
The first technique involves shaving away the nose cartilage and stitching it up again to achieve a better nasal projection.
The second technique involves the surgeon sourcing a cartilage graft from another area of the body which has sufficient cartilage availability and using it to enhance the nose projection. The cartilage graft is usually taken from the nasal septum in primary rhinoplasty. The surgeon may also source cartilage from the ribs or ears if necessary.
Types of Cartilage Grafts
According to the location and method of cartilage graft use, they may be known as columellar struts, which are used to provide support to the columella that divides the nostrils. If the patient is undergoing revision rhinoplasty, there may be insufficient septum cartilage. The surgeon will typically take bone from the rib cage for the cartilage graft in such cases.
The elasticity of ear cartilage helps it offer support to the nose tip. In general, a cartilage transplant from the ear will be thicker compared to cartilage from the septum. But the result could be a nose tip that feels more natural rather than one that his solid and rigid due to the elasticity.
If the patient requires cartilage for primary rhinoplasty plastic surgery, rib or costal cartilage is also considered to be a viable option. Septal or ear cartilage is generally used in nose tip refinement. But at times, the surgeon may use rib cartilage.
Considerations for Male Patients
Male patients may be concerned that a nose projection surgery may make their nose appear too feminine. However, an experienced and skilled surgeon can make sure that they preserve the masculinity of the nose while simultaneously improving the nose projection.
A nose projection surgeon can effectively improve the shape of the nose while preserving it masculine characteristics for men who do not seek a “full” rhinoplasty. Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eugene Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, CA, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.
Click here see more plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Eugene Kim on patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and surrounding areas or call 310-271-6996 to schedule a consultation.
