Background: The appearance of the female nose is quite different from that of men. While it is usually smaller when patient size is relatively comparable, it is more than just a size difference. The female nose is known to have shape changes as well with a lower dorsum, a more narrow tip and an increased nasolabial angle. Often perceived as a more refined nasal appearance it fits better with most feminine faces.
Many females that present for rhinoplasty do not have ‘major’ problems with their nose. They seek a few small changes to have a more refined or slimmer appearance to their nose. While smaller nose changes may appear easier or simpler, that is not necessarily so. The technical aspects of the surgery may be less than in more major septorhinoplasties, but expectations of the result are also more demanding. The patient will be more scrutinizing of every detail and one can not always completely control how the skin will redrape over reshaped tip cartilages or the rotation of the tip.
Case Study: This 23 year-old female requested a rhinoplasty to have a more slim nose. She wanted to get rid of her nasal hump and have a thinner and more upturned nasal tip. She was looking for a more feminine nose.
Under general anesthesia an open rhinoplasty was performed. The nasal hump was reduced, the nasal bones narrowed and the tip cartilages reshaped by suture and the caudal septum trimmed to allow for tip rotation.
At 6 weeks after surgery, her nose shows all of the improvements she was seeking. It will take a full year for the most subtle of nose changes to appear. Although at 6 weeks she probably has about 90% of the results she can expect. the upward rotation of the tip goes a long way in making the dorsal profile lower. While it is not classic rhinoplasty teaching to aim for a concave or more ‘swooped’ dorsal profile, this is nevertheless what some women want for their nose shape.
Highlights:
1) The degree of changes that a rhinoplasty offers to a patient depends on their anatomy and how much change they want to see.
2) For many noses small changes on numerous areas produces an improved and slimmer nose appearance.
3) Rhinoplasty can make the nose appear thinner with a slightly more upturned tip for a more feminine appearing nose shape.
Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana