The Droopy Nose

Question:
Help! I have a droopy nose. What exactly do you do during the procedure to fix it?

Answer:
A variety of techniques are used to lift a droopy nose. Often, more than one technique is used. It all depends on why your nose is droopy! 3 techniques used to address a droopy nose are described below:

This patient had a droopy nose. Suture techniques were instrumental in lifting the tip (projecting and rotating the tip):

The surgeon can elevate and project the nasal tip by applying sutures in a specific way to the tip cartilages. This is illustrated in the diagrams below. Surgeons call this technique the "lateral crural steal" technique, because the sutures borrow or "steal" cartilage from the side part of the cartilage (lateral crura) and redirect this cartilage so that it becomes part of the medial part of the cartilage (medial crura).

Another technique that was used in this patient was excision of overdeveloped caudal septum. The caudal septum means the front part of the septum. If it is overgrown, it can push the tip down, making it "droop." Strategic excision of this excess cartilage will allow the tip to be rotated to an "undroopy" position.

Plumping grafts: If the junction of the nose to the upper lip is retracted or "acute," this may be modified by placing "plumping" grafts beneath the skin in this location. Through an incision inside the nose, bits of the patient's own cartilage (taken from the nasal septum) may be placed at the base of the naso-labial angle. This can improve an overly sharp angle there. This sharp angle is often seen in an "aging" nose.

An example is shown here:

Ask Dr. Becker a question or arrange an appointment for a nose surgery consultation by calling 856-589-NOSE (6673) or emailing us at info@therhinoplastycenter.com.

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