One of the most desirable features for a nose is a tip that is slightly turned upward. If the tip of the nose drops, it can make a face appear older. The nasal tip may droop due to age, traumatic injury (such as a blunt force blow directly to the nasal tip), or genetics. However, one of the most common reasons a patient seeks cosmetic surgery to correct a droopy nasal tip is a failed previous rhinoplasty. In these cases, revision rhinoplasty is needed to restore the nasal tip and the entire face to its proper features. Proper nasal features should have a 90- to a 95-degree angle between the upper lip and the nose for men, and between 90 and 105 degrees for women.
What Causes a Nasal Tip to Droop?
Some people are born with a droopy nasal tip or may develop one as they age or as the result of an injury. In cases of a failed previous rhinoplasty, too much cartilage has been removed from the nasal tip, causing it to collapse and droop downward. In some cases, this may interfere with proper breathing. A quick test to see if this may be the case is to gently push up the nose’s tip with the finger to see if it is easier to breathe. If this is the case, insurance may cover the rhinoplasty cost, as the correction would be considered medically necessary.
Revision Rhinoplasty Techniques for a Drooping Nasal Tip
The goal is to reinforce the cartilage tip so that it no longer collapses downward. This is generally done with cartilage grafts, which can be taken from behind the ear. No bones need to be broken, as would be the case for correcting a nasal bridge defect. Any incisions made to the nose are placed in discreet locations to minimize the appearance of scars.
Revision Rhinoplasty Recovery Time
The surgery will take anywhere from two to four hours and can be performed either with local anesthetic and IV sedation or under general anesthetic. It can also be combined with other cosmetic surgical procedures such as a facelift or a chin augmentation. There may be some initial bruising and swelling that should subside within the first week or two. Patients can generally return to work within a week. Light exercise can be resumed after two weeks, and full activities can be resumed after four to six weeks. Patients may see an immediate improvement, but the nose will gradually continue to refine itself over the next 12 months. Risks are rare; however, they may include infection, bleeding, or reaction to anesthesia.
There is no reason why patients must live with a droopy nose tip. Patients can undergo primary rhinoplasty to correct a droopy tip caused by aging, injury, or genetics, or they can undergo revision rhinoplasty to correct problems caused by previous surgery.
*The content in this blog is developed to spread the awareness towards plastic surgery. Our blog is not intended to serve as a replacement for an actual in-office consultation with Dr. Marin. As such, the information within this blog reflects the unique cases of our individual patients.
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