Cosmetic Rhinoplasty Procedures: Width Reduction

Upon viewing the nose from beneath, the nostrils and the nasal tip would appear as a triangle called the pyriform aperture. To reduce the width of the nose, the surgeon will adjust the pyriform aperture. They can effectively reduce the nose width by making the angles of this triangle steeper at the point where the nostrils connect to the face.

plastic surgeon Dr. David Kim provides rhinoplasty to patients in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding communities.

What is Nasal Base Reduction?

A nasal base reduction is a rhinoplasty technique that helps narrow the nasal base in cases where it is too broad relative to other features of the face. Nasal base reduction, in some variation, is a standard technique used in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty.

Nasal base reduction is even more common in the case of ethnic rhinoplasty. For example, Asian, African American, and Middle Eastern nose surgery often involve a reduction of the nasal base. These ethnicities tend to have a wider nasal base which requires a nose base reduction to refine the nose.

The main complaint of most patients seeking rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty is that their nose looks too wide or big at the base.  

The nose base is typically measured from one nostril’s outer margin to the outer margin of the other nostril.

Ideally, the nasal width base should not be more than the distance between the two eyes. If there were an imaginary vertical line running down from the inner canthus (corner of the eye) on either side, the base should lie between these two lines.

However, it is vital to understand that this adjustment is the cosmetic ideal for a Caucasian nose. This may not be appropriate for ethnic noses. If the base of the nose is slightly wider than this measurement in the case of many ethnic nose surgery patients, it usually offers more natural looking results.

Anatomy Involved In Nasal Base Reduction

An in-depth understanding of the nasal base structure is essential to be able to decide on the surgical treatment of particular rhinoplasty patients. The columella refers to a column-like structure that is located in the middle of the nasal base.

It bifurcates the nostrils into left and right parts. The alar base insertion if the part of the nostril side wall that inserts into the upper lip-cheek junction. The nasal sill area is the region between the alar base insertion point and the columella.

A Wide Sill Area

Some rhinoplasty patients who have a wide nasal base also have a very broad sill area as well. This adds to the extra width of the nose. If the sill area is excessively wide, it could cause a more horizontal type nostril shape. This is commonly seen in patients who have a wide nasal sill.

Cosmetic surgeon Dr. David Kim receives patients from Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and nearby areas for nose reshaping surgery. For more information on the surgical and non-surgical procedures and treatments by Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Dr. David Kim and Dr. Eugene Kim.  Click here to contact us today.

Serving Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Orange County, Southern California and surrounding areas.