There are numerous reasons for people to seek out rhinoplasty nose surgery. A nose that is too big, too small, or crooked can affect the beautiful symmetry of the face. Generally speaking, most procedures are done either to improve appearance by modifying the shape or size of the nose or to alleviate a medical issue caused by a structural abnormality or injury. For a few special cases, non-surgical alternatives may be applied for a temporary fix. Specifically, rhinoplasty can be undertaken to address the following concerns:

While noses can give the face a distinctive look, there are circumstances in which they draw attention away from lovely eyes, a facial expression, or even from meaningful spoken words. These are the circumstances in which patients seek relief from cosmetic discomfort.

For some people, their noses have always felt to some degree like inappropriate appendages. For other people, their noses have developed, as they have grown, in seeming disproportion to their face. It is often in adolescence, when the nose has changed from its childhood shape and size, that patients begin to feel self-conscious about its appearance. In some cases, however, due to financial reasons or parental disagreement, it is not until patients are adults, with their own money and their own decision-making capabilities, that they area able to choose the self-improvement they have been seeking.

Typically, patients consider rhinoplasty because they are dissatisfied with their facial appearance. Most people who are unhappy with their nose have concerns about the bridge or the tip. At the bridge, or dorsum, people frequently complain about a hump. Meanwhile, individuals who want to change the tip often see this part of the nose as being too wide, round, beaked or not well defined. Some patients are self-conscious about the size of their nostrils, which can be disproportionate to the size of the nose or appear asymmetrical to each other. Some also dislike the length of their nose. (Read more about ideal nose dimensions here.) Rhinoplasty is chosen to improve the aesthetic appearance of their noses, to make the nose fit more harmoniously with the face.

There are numerous aesthetic reasons that people desire to have rhinoplasty procedures. Rarely is the decision made lightly. For most patients, contemplating any surgery requires serious thought and research. For those who take the steps to have their noses reshaped, the rewards far outweigh any reservations.

Nose surgeries are most commonly carried out to:

• Improve the side profile of the nose by modifying visible humps or depressions at the bridge
• Alter the nose width or size at the bridge

If the bridge of the nose is being operated on, the surgeon removes the bone and cartilage that is causing ‘the hump’. The nose may then be broken to allow the remaining pieces of bone to be moved closer together, resulting in the narrowing of the nose.

• Alter the length of the nose

A surgeon can adjust and reduce the central structure of the nose, known as the septum, to help shrink the tip and reduce the overall length of the nose. Adjustment to the tip cartilages also helps adjust nasal length.

• Alter the width of the nose

By breaking and repositioning the side nasal bone, a surgeon can also reduce the width of the nose and achieve a narrower appearance.

• Alter a nose angle that is too much or too little relative to the upper lip
• Alter a nasal tip that is enlarged, bulbous, upturned, hooked or drooping

When the tip of the nose is operated on, the cartilage that makes up the tip-support needs to be partly removed or reshaped. This is done through the nostril, or by making a small cut in the bit between the nostrils (known as the columella) in an open rhinoplasty.

• Alter nostrils that are large, wide, upturned, flaring or pinching
• Increase or decrease the base width of your nose
• Alter the size of the nose in relation to facial balance
• Improving a crooked, off center, or asymmetrical nose

If you want a more symmetrical nose, keep in mind that everyone's face is asymmetric to some degree. The results of surgery may not be completely symmetric, although the goal is to create facial balance and correct proportion.

Some higher level reasons people get rhinoplasty are:

• Confidence – improving confidence is the number one motivator for a nose job.
• Bullying – according to the National Center for Educational Studies, nearly 1 in 3 students in the U.S. are bullied. Much of that bullying centers on “looking different” and many parents are turning to cosmetic surgery as one of the ways to help.
• Career – nose surgery increases the level of confidence, which can translate to stronger job performance. Plus, all fairness aside, appraisal reviews and promotions often correspond to a younger and more attractive appearance.
• Revision rhinoplasty – sometimes surgical outcomes are not what the patient hoped for, and a second or revision procedure is necessary.

The objective is to give each patient a nose that is perfectly tailored to his or her face. The secret to a natural looking nose is constructing a style that fits each patient. No matter how straightforward or complex the procedure, rhinoplasty surgery requires excellent skill and precision to get the most ideal outcome.

While the majority of people consider rhinoplasty procedures as being performed for cosmetic purposes, there are also many sound medical reasons for this surgery. These include birth defects (for example, a cleft lip or palate), a deviated septum, chronic sinus problems, and obstructed breathing (such as sleep apnea). Sometimes, people consider rhinoplasty because their nose has been damaged due to a traumatic event or a serious illness, such as a brain tumor.

Some patients may choose rhinoplasty because of an injury to the nose, whereby the nose may be broken or bent following an accident of some kind. Others may have functional breathing problems related to the nasal airways. In these cases, surgery would be considered reconstructive, whereas for the majority of nose operations the surgery is classified as cosmetic.

Reconstruction nose surgery can be performed to:

• Improve breathing – Patients with long-term, even congenital breathing issues, are often amazed at the difference rhinoplasty can make for them by opening up the nasal airways to help breathing.
• Fix broken nose – Whether from falling, an accident or a fight, the resulting nasal deformity can negatively affect appearance and function, as well as cause pain. Restructure and reposition the nose after an injury can be done to fix these issues.
• Sinus problems – Constantly feeling congested, difficulty breathing and severe headaches can all be related to sinus issues, which can be eased through nose surgery.
• Correct birth defects – Lumps, masses, clefts, underdevelopment, etc. The life-changing potential of rhinoplasty can be especially dramatic in the correction of birth defects.
• Reduce snoring – The disruption caused by snoring is often treated as a joke. However, it can actually be quite serious and can contribute to poor sleep quality as well as significant relationship problems.

Many people who opt for rhinoplasty have breathing abnormalities associated with poor nasal structure. The most common structural issue is a crooked nasal septum (the cartilage that separates the left and right nasal passages). Deviated septums can create breathing problems that may lead to snoring and sleep apnea. Septoplasty is a surgery which corrects a deviated septum by improving the nasal structure to produce better alignment. Nose surgery that's done to alter an obstructed airway requires careful evaluation of the nasal structure related to airflow and breathing. It is also possible to have a cosmetic surgery to reshape the nose (rhinoplasty) at the same time as a septoplasty. Restoring your ability to breathe can greatly improve your quality of life.

If your rhinoplasty is for improving your appearance rather than your health, you should wait until your nasal bone is fully grown. For girls, this is approximately at the age of 15. Boys might still be growing until they are a bit older. However, if you are getting surgery because of a breathing impairment, rhinoplasty can be performed at a younger age.

It is very important for the patient to have a clear idea of what he or she would like to change about the nose when considering rhinoplasty. This will help our doctors to develop a good plan to deliver the desired outcome. It is just as important for the patient to know that there may be limitations as to what changes can be achieved in a cosmetic nasal plastic surgery, depending on the patient's skin type, bone structure, and other facial features. Function and aesthetics are always equally as important in all cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery cases.

As you have probably realized, there are numerous reasons to consider rhinoplasty. What is most important is to be clear on what it can do for you, personally. Once your decision to proceed has been reached, we encourage you contact us for more information. To request a consultation, simply click here.

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your nose, or suffer from medical issues with your nose, we invite you to contact our nose surgery service today. You can find the answers to the most frequently asked questions here. Your doctors in Korea will provide a comprehensive medical history and Rhinoplasty analysis that will allow them to provide each patient with an accurate diagnosis so that a patient-specific treatment plan can be put into action. Contact us now.