Short Upturned Nose: Before and After Photos of Combining Nasal Tip Extension and Alar Base Reduction for a Bulbous and Short Nose > O.P Column

Hello, this is Dr. Kim Hyung-taek.

Today, I would like to introduce a case of nose surgery for a short nose, often referred to as an upturned nose.

A short or upturned nose gives a cute and youthful appearance due to the short, round tip.

However, if it is excessively short, it can resemble a “pig nose,” which can cause stress for many people.

Typically, those with this type of nose often have thick skin and excess tissue at the nasal tip, making it challenging to make the nose very small or sharp.

However, if the nasal tip can be properly extended, it can result in a stylish and attractive nose.

In the pre-surgery photo, you can see a slight asymmetry where the nasal tip is bent to one side.

The nasal tip isn’t excessively wide, but the alar (the sides of the nose) are spread out.

Although I generally avoid unnecessary alar reduction, in cases like this, alar base reduction (also known as lateral alar reduction or trimming the alar) is recommended.

In the 45-degree angle before and after comparison, you can see that the nasal tip has been sufficiently extended, resulting in a more mature and feminine appearance.

One concern people often have when considering alar base reduction is scarring.

One reason scars may not heal well is that people with wide alar bases often have thick skin and oily skin, which can sometimes hinder smooth healing.

However, with proper post-surgery care, scars can heal well, and if the incision is made carefully, the scar will blend into the natural crease of the alar, making it almost invisible, so there is no need to worry.

From the front, you can see that the crooked appearance has been corrected, resulting in a more stable shape.

Since the bridge of the nose was quite low, we used a 4mm silicone implant.