Rhinoplasty7 min read
Upturned or short nose: how rhinoplasty can correct it
An upturned or short nose shows the nostrils from the front and can look out of balance with the face. It may be natural or the result of an earlier operation or injury. This guide explains what makes a nose upturned, when correction is worth considering, how surgeons lengthen and lower the tip, what the risks are and how recovery goes.
The main points in 30 seconds
- Rhinoplasty can lengthen a short nose and bring an upturned tip down.
- An upturned nose may be natural or result from an earlier operation or injury.
- Correction usually needs cartilage grafts and an open approach.
- Splints come out at about a week, the cast at about two weeks.
- City Medical Centre plans each case with 3D modelling at a free consultation.
Key facts about the procedure
- Operation time1.5–3 hours
- Main healing4 months
- Stay in clinic1 day
- Price
$6,000from $4,200
Can rhinoplasty correct an upturned nose?
Yes. An upturned or short nose is one of the tip problems that rhinoplasty can correct. The surgeon can lengthen the nose, bring the tip down and reduce how much of the nostrils is visible from the front. This is a more delicate task than removing a hump, because the nose has to be built up rather than reduced, and the skin and lining must stretch to cover a longer frame.
A slightly upturned tip is often considered attractive, especially in women, so the aim is not to remove the upturn completely but to restore balance with the rest of the face. The plan depends on the nose's structure, the quality of the skin and what caused the short nose in the first place. The types of operation we perform are described on our rhinoplasty page.
What makes a nose upturned or short
Surgeons describe the position of the tip with a few simple measurements. The most important is the nasolabial angle, the angle between the columella (the strip of skin between the nostrils) and the upper lip.
Nasolabial angle in women
- Typical balanced range
- About 95–110°
- In an upturned nose
- Noticeably more open
Nasolabial angle in men
- Typical balanced range
- About 90–95°
- In an upturned nose
- More open, often looks less masculine
Nostrils seen from the front
- Typical balanced range
- A small amount is visible
- In an upturned nose
- Nostrils clearly on show
Length of the nose
- Typical balanced range
- In proportion to the midface
- In an upturned nose
- Short from root to tip
The common causes are:
- Natural anatomy. Some people are born with a short septum or tip cartilages that point upward.
- Previous rhinoplasty. Removing too much cartilage from the septum or tip can let the tip rotate upward during healing.
- Injury. A blow to the nose can damage the septum, which supports the tip.
- Loss of septal support. Some infections or other damage to the septum can shorten the nose and give it a saddle shape.
Indications for correction
Correction is usually considered when:
- the nostrils are visible from the front and this bothers the patient;
- the nose looks short or out of proportion with the face;
- the tip has rotated upward after an earlier operation;
- a tip problem is combined with a deviated septum and breathing difficulty;
- the nose was shortened by injury.
The operation is done in adults, once the nose has stopped growing. Good general health is required, and smokers are asked to stop well before surgery, because a lengthened nose depends on good blood supply to the skin. If the short nose is the result of an earlier rhinoplasty, a revision is usually planned no earlier than a year after the first operation, once the tissues have fully settled.
How surgeons lengthen and reshape the tip
To bring an upturned tip down, the surgeon needs to give it a longer and stronger support. In most cases this means adding cartilage rather than removing it. This work usually requires open rhinoplasty, in which a small incision across the columella lets the surgeon see and fix the cartilages precisely. Closed rhinoplasty, with incisions hidden inside the nose, is better suited to smaller tip adjustments.
Common techniques include:
- Septal extension graft. A strip of cartilage attached to the end of the septum pushes the tip down and forward and holds it in its new position.
- Columellar strut. A small piece of cartilage between the tip cartilages supports the tip and keeps it from drooping or rising again.
- Repositioning the tip cartilages. The tip cartilages are released and sutured in a lower, longer position.
- Adjusting the base of the nose. In some cases the nostrils or the junction with the upper lip are refined to improve the profile.
The cartilage for grafts most often comes from the septum. If the septum is weak or was used in a previous operation, cartilage can be taken from the ear or, less often, from a rib. How much the nose can be lengthened also depends on the skin: thick or scarred skin stretches less, so the gain is planned with this in mind.
Possible complications
Complications are uncommon, but it is important to know about them:
- swelling and bruising, which are a normal response but should be monitored if excessive;
- bleeding in the first days, especially if the restrictions are not followed;
- infection, which is rare;
- asymmetry or visible irregularities of the grafts;
- a tip that shifts again during healing, becoming too high or too low;
- impaired breathing because of individual anatomy or scarring;
- thick scarring in people prone to it.
Some patients need a small correction after the nose has settled. The risk of problems is lower when there is careful preparation, a realistic plan and close follow-up after surgery.
Recovery stages and timeline
Recovery after tip lengthening follows the same stages as other rhinoplasties, although swelling at the tip may take longer to go down.
- First day
- Observation in hospital; breathing through the mouth with splints in the nostrils
- Days 1–7
- Swelling and bruising peak; splints are removed on day 7
- Days 7–14
- The nasal cast is worn; stitches and the cast are removed at about two weeks
- Weeks 2–4
- Most visible swelling fades; many people return to office work
- Months 1–1.5
- Slight nasal congestion may remain
- Up to 1–1.5 years
- The tip gradually refines and the final shape settles
During recovery you should sleep on your back with your head raised, avoid bending over, not wear glasses on the nose and protect it from sun and knocks. The first improvement is visible once swelling goes down, but the final result of tip work can only be judged after about a year.
Getting a personal plan at City Medical Centre
City Medical Centre welcomes patients from abroad and performs primary rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, rhinoseptoplasty and reconstructive rhinoseptoplasty. At the consultation the surgeon assesses the length of the nose, tip projection, the septum and the nasal lining, and uses 3D modelling so you can see the planned proportions before surgery. The operation is performed under general or local anaesthesia with a one-day hospital stay.
The specific graft techniques described above are general information, and the right plan for your nose is chosen at the consultation.
The first consultation is free and can take place online: send photos of your nose from several angles by Telegram. The cost is named after the assessment and fixed in the contract. A personal coordinator supports you from your first message to the end of recovery, and consultations with your surgeon are free for a year after surgery. Learn more on our rhinoplasty page.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Can an upturned nose be fixed with rhinoplasty?
Yes. Rhinoplasty can lengthen a short nose, bring the tip down and reduce how much of the nostrils is visible from the front. The aim is usually a natural, balanced tip rather than removing the upturn completely, and the plan depends on the cartilage, the skin and the cause of the short nose.
Are grafts needed to lengthen a short nose?
In most cases, yes. Lengthening the nose means giving the tip a longer support, which is usually done with cartilage grafts such as a septal extension graft. Cartilage is most often taken from the septum, and if there is not enough, from the ear or, less often, from a rib.
Is upturned nose correction open or closed rhinoplasty?
It is usually done as open rhinoplasty, because placing and fixing grafts at the tip requires a clear view of the cartilages. The small scar across the columella normally becomes hard to see. Closed rhinoplasty may be enough for minor tip adjustments, and the surgeon decides after examining your nose.
How long is recovery after tip correction?
Splints are removed after about a week and the cast and stitches at about two weeks. Most visible swelling fades within two to four weeks, and many people return to office work then. Swelling at the tip goes down slowly, and the final shape is judged after about a year to a year and a half.
Can a nose be too upturned after rhinoplasty?
Yes. If too much cartilage is removed from the septum or tip, the tip can rotate upward as it heals and the nose may look short or pinched. This is corrected with revision rhinoplasty, usually no earlier than a year after the first operation, using cartilage grafts to lengthen and support the tip.
Have a question about your case? Get a free consultation
Message a coordinator on Telegram: we reply right in the chat, and you can send photos and questions there too.
- The first consultation is free, online consultations are available
- The doctor names the cost after the assessment, and it is fixed in the contract
- A personal coordinator guides you from the first message to recovery
Message our coordinator on Telegram
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