Dear Dr. Winder:
Q. Just about everyone in my family inherited a large hump on the nose from my father. I would like to have mine removed without drastically changing the way I look. What can I do to be sure I get the look I want?

A. To reduce a prominent hump on the nose while preserving your family look demands skill and artistic judgment on the part of the plastic surgeon. From inside the nostrils, a small amount of bone and cartilage can be removed and/or reshaped to bring your nose into balance with the rest of your face. I always aim for balance and harmony of all of the facial features, with the nose complimenting others rather than being the prominent feature itself.

Dear Dr. Winder:

Q. I'm a 29 year old male; I don't like my nose because it is flat and wide with flaring nostrils. I want my nose to better suit my face, still strong, but not so wide. How would you accomplish this?

A. I have performed many rhinoplasty on patients very similar to you. Your description and desires would lead me to believe that you want the bridge of your nose made taller, the base narrower and the tip to project more. To achieve a taller bridge, incisions are made inside the rim of the nostrils. Portions of cartilage are repositioned to build up the bridge and project the tip. If necessary, pieces of bone or cartilage from other areas such as the ear can be used for this. To narrow the base, wedges of skin are removed at the base of each nostril. The outer rims are attached closer to the center leaving tiny, acceptable scars where the edges were stitched together.

Read more about rhinoplasty.

The Nose is One of the Main Focal Points of the Face; Reshaping it can Make a Dramatic Difference!