What is a Bulbous Nose Deformity?
Characterised by a large, prominent and out of proportion nose tip, Bulbous Nose deformity is a common concern for many. This is however an easily corrected condition with Rhinoplasty.
Causes of Bulbous Nose Deformity
A bulbous nose is most often a result of an excess of any or all of the following:
- Excess skin
- Excess fat under the skin
- Broad or wide cartilage at the nose tip
Surgical Corrective Action for Bulbous Nose
Depending on the reason behind the bulbous nose deformity, the surgical technique to be used may be any of the following:
- Skin de-gloving involves lifting the skin at the nose tip to access the nasal structure below
- Removal of the excess fat under the skin
- The excess cartilage is trimmed and reoriented to create the appealing shape and position
- Thinning the skin is another possibility, however this may have limited results depending on the patient’s skin type.
Possibility and Limitations
While it is entirely possible to narrow the nose tip with bulbous nose surgery, patients with excessively thick skin may not have optimal results with the thinning technique. It is therefore advisable to set one’s expectations to realistic limitations based on ethnicity, skin type etc; make sure you do your research and have detailed discussions with your surgeon on what to expect.
Postoperative Expectations and Recovery
- Surgery duration is typically 1-2 hours. Performed under general anesthesia, it allows patients to return home the same day.
- Procedure after care and recovery has no significant downtime. Minimal discomfort is to be expected for the first 5 days or so like swelling, mild pain and the dressing cover on the nose. This is manageable with prescribed medication and patience as well as cautious day-to-day activities.
- Results are two-pronged; initial results begin to show within 3-4 weeks while the final appearance sought may take around 3-6 months to be fully visible.
Nonsurgical Alternatives
Non-surgical techniques are limited in options for correcting bulbous nose deformity. Minor adjustments can be made with fillers or Botox that can help transform the appearance of the nose by addressing/ reshaping the surrounding areas without directly interfering with the actual area of deformity.
Conclusion
Bulbous nose deformity need no longer make you feel conscious, with rhinoplasty techniques devised specifically to help craft you a nose that is appealing. Maintain realistic expectations of the change possible and with proper post-procedural care, it is easily possible to change it to a natural looking and appealing nose tip that you have always wanted.
FAQs about Bulbous Nose Rhinoplasty
1. Can a bulbous nose be corrected without surgery?
While it is possible to approach correcting bulbous nose deformity with a non-surgical method such as fillers and Botox, one needs to keep in mind that this is not a permanent fix. Given the structural nature of the change required for optimal results, surgical intervention is typically the best option for long-lasting and significant changes to this condition.
2. How painful is the recovery from bulbous nose rhinoplasty?
There is very minimal discomfort post-procedure and that is easy to manage with prescribed pain medications; while the procedure itself is painless since it is conducted under general anaesthesia.
3. Are there any risks associated with bulbous nose rhinoplasty?
All surgical procedures come with some risks, but in the case of bulbous nose rhinoplasty there are no serious complications to be expected. The risks if any are mostly infections, bleeding or dissatisfaction with the outcome. Even these can be minimised with the choice of your surgeon – experience counts!
4. How soon after the surgery can I return to work?
Rhinoplasty by nature is a low downtime procedure allowing patients to get back to non-strenuous regular activity at home within a few days of the surgery. It is however advised to avoid hard activities and heavy lifting jobs for some weeks under medical advice.
5. Will the results look natural?
This is where the choice of rhinoplasty surgeon plays a significant role. The surgeon will aim to achieve the best possible results that allows for the most natural looking results based on your unique facial aesthetics. Do your research on the look you wish to achieve as well as the surgeon you trust the job with.
