Cosmetic Rhinoplasty: Straightening a Crooked Nose

By Gary Motykie, MD

Cosmetic Rhinoplasty: Straightening a Crooked Nose | Beverly Hills If the patient’s nose has moved to one side or is slightly crooked, they may consider a surgical procedure to straighten it.

In this cosmetic surgery, the surgeon may reduce some cartilage or bone or physically move the tissue. In addition, they may also place a splint to hold the nose in position as it heals, similar to a fractured nose after functional rhinoplasty.

The level of the crookedness of the nose depends on the underlying cause. Crooked noses are usually only an aesthetic concern. But, at times, it can cause breathing challenges. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

Causes of a Crooked Nose

There are two main types of crooked noses. The first type occurs because of an issue within the intricate cartilage, bone, and tissue system of the nose. This can happen due to the following reasons:

Birth defects
Severe infections
Injuries, such as a fractured nose
Tumors
Nose surgery

The reason will determine if the crooked nose will be I, C, or S-shaped.

The other type of nose crookedness occurs due to a deviated septum. The septum is the internal wall that divides the left and right nasal passageways. If the patient has a deviated septum, this wall leans to one side which partially blocks the nose. Certain people have a deviated septum since birth while others develop if following an injury.

A deviated septum can cause the nose to look crooked. It can also lead to the following conditions:

Loud breathing
Issues sleeping on one side
Nosebleeds

The patient should consult a qualified surgeon to determine the reason for their crooked nose. This can help identify the most suitable treatment option for them.

Surgical Treatment

While dermal fillers may help straighten a slightly crooked nose, more severe cases will usually require plastic surgery. Rhinoplasty plastic surgery aims to treat the cosmetic issues of the nose. On the other hand, septoplasty straightens the wall the divides the inside of the nose into two parts.

Rhinoplasty

The two types of rhinoplasty are cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional rhinoplasty. The only focus of cosmetic rhinoplasty is correcting the appearance of the nose. In comparison, functional rhinoplasty helps address breathing problems.

According to a 2015 study, rhinoplasty can successfully straighten crooked noses in patients with or without facial symmetry regardless of the technique used. Facial symmetry is the similar appearance of both halves of the face.

Septoplasty

Septoplasty reshapes the wall between the nasal passages, effectively straightening the nose. If the patient has a crooked nose due to a deviated septum, the surgeon will likely recommend them to undergo septoplasty. This surgery can straighten the nose while relieving nasal passageway obstructions because of a deviated septum.

The Bottom Line

A crooked nose commonly occurs due to a past injury or a deviated septum. Around 80 percent of people have some form of a deviated septum. The patient should choose an appropriate treatment if their crooked nose is leading to breathing issues or significant cosmetic problems.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie receives patients from Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for rhinoplasty.

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