The ideal nose varies for each individual. Before a surgeon, there are several important tasks at hand: not only to meet the patient’s desires regarding the shape and width of the nose and improve breathing but also to create a natural nose that fits the proportions and features of the face.
Rhinoplasty is the most sought-after plastic surgery procedure in the world; however, over 40% of clients seek correction after a few years. Achieving the perfect nose on the first try is not easy, but we are ready to recommend the best surgeons, whom we and our relatives and friends have undergone surgery with.
Hump removal
Hump removal is the most popular type of rhinoplasty. Each surgeon decides on the method and type of anesthesia for the surgery independently. We recommend open rhinoplasty with an incision along the columella under general anesthesia for hump removal exclusively. During this operation, to make the nose bridge perfectly straight or lift the tip upward, the surgeon may use donor material such as silicone implants or ear or rib cartilage. There’s no need to worry about this – when ear cartilage is harvested, the shape of the ears will not change, and the scar will be hidden behind near the hairline and heal quickly. The same applies to rib implants – there are no pain sensations, and the incision is made under the breast, disappearing within a few months with good care.
Osteotomy (correction of a wide nose bridge)
In rhinoplasty, osteotomy is a procedure where a part of the nasal bone tissue is removed. It allows correcting defects such as a bony hump, a wide bridge, post-traumatic deformity, or excessive length. Despite requiring the wearing of a cast and longer recovery due to swelling and bruising, the pain is minimal. Most clients don’t even need painkillers for the first three days after surgery. Osteotomy enables the plastic surgeon to create a new nose of the correct shape that matches the oval and features of the face, provides good breathing, and looks great in real life and photographs.
Septoplasty (correction of the nasal septum)
The nasal septum divides the nasal cavity into right and left parts. If it’s deviated, patients experience breathing difficulties, snoring, nasal congestion, and may develop a dependence on nasal drops and sprays. Conditions such as rhinitis, sinusitis, and sinusitis may also develop. Sometimes, strong snoring and defects like a cleft lip or rabbit lip are indications for surgery. Most patients in need of septoplasty also undergo it in combination with cosmetic nose correction, either tip correction or hump removal.
If you plan to have cosmetic rhinoplasty after septoplasty, keep in mind that in this case, the operation will be considered a revision and will cost 30-50% more.
Correction of the shape of the nostrils and wings
Plastic surgery of the nostrils and wings of the nose is performed to correct cosmetic defects such as asymmetry, excess skin tissue, excessively wide or narrow nostrils and wings. This type of rhinoplasty is the only one that can be done under local anesthesia if the client desires.
Nose tip plastic surgery
This is a somewhat deceptive operation. More than 80% of clients who come to us for nose tip surgery actually require a more complex rhinoplasty. In nose tip surgery for clients with European features, the surgeon reduces or tightens the nasal cartilage towards the center. However, to lift or lower the tip, it is usually necessary to adjust the nasal bridge and use donor material, such as rib or ear cartilage. Don’t forget about the correction of the wings and nostrils – if they have stretched due to a wide tip, it is necessary to remove the excess for a beautiful result.
Shortening the nose
It is possible to make a long nose shorter, but it is not recommended unless you are ready to address the issue comprehensively. By reducing only the tip, you lose the triangular shape (in Korea, it is called the “hill” or “crescent”), and the nose becomes square and looks downwards, which appears unnatural. Therefore, we recommend clients undergo a full operation with osteotomy and the use of donor rib or ear cartilage.
Lifting the nasal bridge (asian rhinoplasty)
Increasing the nose with an implant or rib cartilage is the most popular rhinoplasty procedure in Korea. This operation can make the nasal bridge higher and thinner, lift the tip, tighten thick skin, and even make a hump less noticeable. Silicone implants are often used to increase the nose – if a revision is needed or the patient experiences trauma to the nose, they can be easily removed, and the procedure is done with sedative anesthesia in 1-2 hours, and the cost is much lower than using donor cartilage. If you plan to have rhinoplasty using rib cartilage for personal or medical reasons, be prepared for a more expensive and complex operation performed under general anesthesia.
Columella
The columella is a bridge made of skin and cartilage tissue between the nostrils. If it is thicker than 7 mm, located too high or too low, the nose may appear droopy, and breathing problems can arise, leading to plastic surgery. Usually, columella plastic surgery is performed simultaneously with other types of rhinoplasty and takes 20-30 minutes.
Revision rhinoplasty
Performing revision rhinoplasty is much more challenging than the initial operation. According to statistics, 62% of clients require revision rhinoplasty due to surgical errors, where surgeons rush to perform as many operations as possible in a day. This is a common situation in budget clinics that aim to attract as many patients as possible at reduced prices. Therefore, if you need a revision surgery, we recommend turning to an experienced surgeon in private practice who performs no more than 2 surgeries a day. Revision rhinoplasty takes longer, costs more, and requires the surgeon’s greater concentration and extensive experience. We are here to help you choose a specialist and forget about bandages and the need to sleep semi-upright once and for all.
Men’s rhinoplasty
Men’s rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure aimed at changing the shape and size of the nose to enhance its appearance and proportions in line with masculine facial features. Typically, while women prefer a nose with a crescent-shaped, upturned tip, men often suit a straight, flat nose without a hump and overly rounded nostrils. The operation helps correct defects of the nose, whether congenital or acquired, and improves functionality in case of breathing problems.