Understanding Nose Job Terminology
Considering Rhinoplasty?
Here are Some Nose Job Terms You Should Know –
Dr. M. Azhar Ali is a double board-certified, Detroit area plastic surgeon who has performed more than 7,000 plastic surgery procedures. He and his team offer the highest standards in nose job technologies and rhinoplasty surgical techniques – coupled with comfortable & compassionate care – to all of our valued patients.
In this article we set forth some of the medical terms you may hear or read about when considering nose job surgery.
However, the best way to understand these terms – and how they apply to your situation – is to schedule a consultation with Dr, Ali in his state-of-the-art Detroit area Medical Facility.
Nose Job Terminology
Alar Base Reduction
The “alar base” is the area of the nose that forms the nostrils. An Alar Base Reduction is a procedure to make nostrils smaller.
Considering Rhinoplasty? Here are Some Nose Job Terms You Should Know
Alar Base Reduction
The “alar base” is the area of the nose that forms the nostrils. An Alar Base Reduction is a procedure to make nostrils smaller.
Alarplasty
Sometimes also called “tip-plasty”, alarplasty surgery improves the tip of the nose, usually narrowing and defining it.
Bulbous Tip
This refers to a wide, oversized nasal tip with large alar cartilage.
Closed Rhinoplasty
Also called “endonasal rhinoplasty”, this is a type of nose job technique in which all of the incisions are made inside the nose, which hides any scars.
Read More About Closed Rhinoplasty HERE.
Columella
This is the central column of the nose separating the left nostril from the right.
Dorsal Bump
Also sometimes called nasal or nose “humps” or “hooks” – these are one of the most common areas of dissatisfaction with nose shape. The dorsal bump is caused by large nasal bones, a large septum cartilage, or both.
Dorsal Aesthetic Lines (DAL)
These are the visual lines that run parallel down the bridge of the nose – ideally the DALs will create a straight, smooth, continuous line from the forehead or top of the nose to the tip of the nose.
Edema
Edema refers to swelling of soft tissue – and occurs in any type of surgery. Edema will vary with the extensiveness of the surgery, but in nose jobs it develops more in patients with thick skin.
Front Droop
Front Droop refers to a drooping tip – sometimes also called a hook nose – where the tip of the nose droops below the rest of the nose. This may resemble a hook shape from the profile view. The medical term a front droop is tip ptosis.
Hanging Columella
When the columella (above) extends too far below the outer edge of the nostril it is called a Hanging Columella – which is most easily seen from a profile view.
Nasal Dorsum
This is the medical term for what is commonly called the bridge of the nose. It is roughly the upper two-thirds of the nose, and connects the tip of the nose to the face. The upper half of the dorsum is made of nasal bones, and the lower half of the dorsum is cartilages.
Open Rhinoplasty
Also called external rhinoplasty, this is a more complex type of nose job than closed rhinoplasty. Open rhinoplasty surgery exposes the nasal skeleton by incision on the columella – and requires an external incision that leaves small, visible scar on the nose that typically heals well with time.
Read More About Open Rhinoplasty HERE.
“Pig Nose”
This unfortunate term refers to over-shortening and over-elevation of the nose, typically from a poorly performed rhinoplasty that now requires revision surgery. It is an insensitive term that we do not use in our office – but is still sometimes found in the plastic surgery industry.
Tip Rotation
Refers to over-shortening and/or over-elevation of the nose. Sometime this is intentional, and as the patient heals, the tissues will begin to relax and gravity will pull the nose down. In other cases this can be the result of a poorly performed rhinoplasty that now requires revision surgery.
Pinched Nose
A “pinched nose” has excessive narrowing of the nose bridge that disrupts the preferred look of straight parallel lines down the bridge of the nose.
Polly Beak or Parrots Beak
The technical term for this is “supratip fullness” – and it is a common problem during recovery from a poorly done nose job. In this condition, the tip of the nose curves down much like a parrot’s beak – and it can be the result of swelling, excess tip cartilage, scar tissue, or insufficient support of the tip.
Primary Nose Job or Rhinoplasty
The first nose job a patient has – or any rhinoplasty on a previously un-operated nose – is the primary nose job. These are safer and easier surgeries than secondary or revision rhinoplasties, because there is no previous surgical scarring or damage to the cartilage, tissue or bone.
Secondary or Revision Rhinoplasty
This is when a patient requires a second nose job to correct a previous unsuccessful nose surgery.
Spreader Grafts
These are pieces of cartilage – typically taken from the patient’s own septum, ear, or rib – used to support and contour the nose. Spreader grafts can be used to achieve the desired appearance as well as to provide added support – and is used for both cosmetic and functional rhinoplasty.
Tip Projection
Tip projection is a measurement of far out the nose tip reaches from a line perpendicular to the face. A person can also have over or under tip projection.
It is typically considered ideal if (on side view) the tip of the nose is the high point of the nose and the nasal bones are lower than the tip. If the nasal tip is below the dorsal nasal profile it is an under-projecting or hanging tip. If the nasal tip is extended above the dorsal nasal profile it is an over-projecting tip.
Turbinate or Turbinal
These are the long, narrow, shell-like bones that run downward into the breathing passage of the nose.
Detroit Area’s Best Nose Job Surgeon
Dr. Ali will offer you a consultation so you can can understand what the best surgical options are for you. He will carefully explain all medical terms and make sure that you have an understanding of the best way to achieve the nose you’ve always dreamed of.
