In some people, an excess of cartilage on the tip of the nose may give it a ball-like appearance or otherwise produce a shape they may be uncomfortable with. If you're dissatisfied with the tip of your nose, it can be reduced or re-shaped with a procedure called 'tip plasty' an outpatient surgery, which usually takes an hour. During a tip plasty, a doctor can also change the angle between your nose and your upper lip or reduce the width of the nostrils, if so desired. Incisions may be made inside the nose or across the vertical strip of skin which separates the nostrils. Nasal skin is pulled back to expose the underlying cartilage and the tip cartilage is sculpted using a scalpel, surgical scissors, or other devices. Alteration of the nasal tip may be performed on its own or as part of a more complex rhinoplasty (RYE-no-plast-ee) in which other changes, such as narrowing the nose or removing a nasal hump, are also made.
©2006 Crossroads Mobile. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
