Crooked Nose - Cosmetic Surgery Solutions

If a person has a crooked nose, it usually means the nose has an appearance that is twisted out of shape or has a “bent” look. A nose that is considered to be crooked can be the result of a deviated septum, trauma to the nose or an irregularity at birth such as congenital bumps/masses on the nose or a blockage of the bony opening of the nose. While some people that have a crooked nose do not have any type of medical problems, others might suffer from functional issues including difficulty breathing on a regular basis. Take a look below to learn about some of the most popular cosmetic surgery solutions for patients that want to make a change in the appearance of their crooked nose.

Crooked Nose – Surgical Treatment Options

The treatment options for patients with a crooked nose depend on the severity or extent of the issue. Surgical options for addressing the issue of a crooked nose include:

• Rhinoplasty, AKA a nose job, is performed to surgically change the size, shape, or position of the nose through the alteration of the skin, bone, and cartilage of the nose. Rhinoplasty is an ideal treatment option for patients that want to enjoy a nose that is balanced in its appearance with the rest of the facial features. The surgery can be performed as open rhinoplasty (where the incisions created by the doctor are on the outside of the nose) or closed rhinoplasty (where the incisions created by the surgeon are placed inside the nose and away from the view of others). The doctor will reposition the bone and cartilage and/or remove the necessary amount of skin and tissue to straighten the nose.
• Septoplasty is performed to address the issue of a deviated septum that is causing breathing difficulties thanks to nasal obstruction. The septoplasty surgery straightens the septum which is the cartilage and bone that divides the nose into separate nostrils. The surgeon makes an incision on one side of the nose in order to access the septum more easily. The mucous membrane is lifted so the deviated septum can be moved into the desired position. Once the desired amount of extra bone and cartilage is removed, the mucous membrane is repositioned, and the patient enjoys easier breathing and a straighter look to the nose.

Both of the treatments discussed above provide permanent results to the appearance of the nose.

Crooked Nose – Nonsurgical Treatments

Patients that are not sure about having surgery to treat a crooked nose can use nonsurgical methods to address the look of the nose:

• Fillers can be injected into the soft tissues of the nose to fill-in the sections of the nose that have a crooked appearance. Soft tissue fillers are a minimally invasive treatment that improves the contour and shape of the nose. The filler is injected into the targeted area of the nose and the results last anywhere from six months to two years. The placement of fillers in the nose is often referred to as “liquid rhinoplasty”. Patients will need to have follow-up treatments to maintain the results.
• Exercise is promoted as a nonsurgical option for some people that have a crooked nose. They claim that using devices such as a nasal shaper can help to straighten the nose. One exercise option that is promoted as being able to straighten a crooked nose include grasping the bridge of the nose with the thumb and index finger and then pushing the tip of the nose upwards while pulling the upper lip in a downward motion. Other exercise options for the nose include pushing the tip of the nose upwards (with the index finger) while smiling or making an “O” shape with the mouth (while pushing the nostrils upwards with the index fingers) before breathing out through the nose while flaring the nostrils.

It should be noted that there is no scientific evidence to indicate any of these exercise options work to correct a crooked nose. Patients that want to change the position of the cartilage or bones can only achieve this result through surgery.

Crooked Nose – Scheduling an Appointment with a Doctor

Patients that are interested in addressing the look of their crooked nose should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor that is experienced in performing both surgical and nonsurgical treatments on the nose.

A crooked nose can cause more than breathing issues or an off-center look to the nose. It can also cause a person to have self-esteem issues and be afraid to be in front of others because they are not happy with the appearance of the nose and have a less than positive self-image.

The doctor will examine the nose to determine its current condition and assess the changes that can made through surgical rhinoplasty or nonsurgical rhinoplasty (such as liquid rhinoplasty).

In addition, the surgeon will review the complete medical history of the patient. If the reasons for the crooked nose have been present since birth, there might not be an immediate or pressing reason to have a procedure. If the nose has recently become crooked in appearance due to an injury or medical condition like an infection, the doctor might need to address the nose as soon as possible.

The appearance of a crooked nose is quite common and is diagnosed and treated on a daily basis by surgeons across the United States. Once the doctor and the patient agree about the best treatment to achieve the desired results, the issue of the crooked nose can be resolved through surgical or nonsurgical methods.

- MA