A wide nose tip is mostly the result of genetics but can sometimes be due to trauma to the nose. Another cause could be thick skin, which makes the nose tip look a bit wider.Close Up of Dr. Sturm

How wide should the tip of your nose be? 

The ideal width of the nose is not measured in inches but rather by how it fits on your face. According to textbooks, if you make a line from the inside of your brow and down to your lip, the line should curve and the outside of the nostril should be in line with the curve. Another method of measurement is done by dividing the nose into thirds, where  the outer edge of the left nostril to the tip is the same width as the tip itself, which is the same size as the right side of the tip to the outer edge of the right nostril.

There are a lot of other things that determine the ideal width for your nose, so if your nose doesn’t exactly fit the above criteria, it doesn’t mean it’s too wide. We consider how your nose looks on your face, how it fits with your features, and most importantly, what you want it to look like. In the end we want a nose that looks the best on you and that makes you happy.

Is it possible to make a nose tip smaller? 

Making a nose tip smaller is one of the most common procedures that we perform. The way that we do it depends on your anatomy and the thickness of your skin, as well as the shape of your cartilages. We can definitely make the tip smaller, but how small we make it varies from person to person.

How do you fix a wide nose tip? 

The way we fix a wide nose tip depends on the person. In those with thinner skin we trim some of the cartilages and bring them together with sutures. We can also use grafts, but we use them sparingly because sometimes they can be seen if the skin is too thin.

For someone with thicker skin, we typically reinforce the structure of the tip to better support it. We also bring the cartilages together in a very structured way to be able to show the narrowness under thick skin. We may use grafts, which can involve sutures, trimming and reshaping of some of your cartilages.

Is wide nose tip rhinoplasty more painful? 

Wide nose tip rhinoplasty is not more painful if we’re only working on the tip. If we’re moving cartilage around and suturing, there’s going to be some discomfort, but it’s not as uncomfortable as when we take down a bump or doing something with the bones at the top of the nose.

Have questions?
Call or email any time. I’d sincerely love to hear from you.
(281) 336-9300

Read More

Rhinoplasty Before & After Photos
What Causes a Hook Nose?
The Ultimate Guide to Ethnic Rhinoplasty
Who Is Not a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

About Dr. Angela Sturm

Dr. Angela Sturm is a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon with certifications with the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Sturm’s meticulous nature makes for exceptional results and satisfied patients. Dr. Sturm was named Texas Monthly’s Super Doctors Rising Star in 2016-2017, Texas Monthly’s Super Doctor in 2018-2019, H Texas Magazine’s Top Doc in 2013-2018, Top Doc by Houstonia magazine in 2016-2018, Houston Business Journal’s People on the Move and 40 under 40, Blazing Star Award by Texas Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Top Women in Business, one of the Top 30 Influential Women of Houston, Best Female Cosmetic Surgeon in Out Smart, and given the Patients’ Choice Award, On Time Doctor Award and Compassionate Doctor Award by Vitals.com.


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