How Small Can A Big Nose Be Made After Rhinoplasty?

Q: Dr. Eppley,  I have a rather big nose (and it become much more bigger when I smile or grimace). How much of it can be reduced by rhinoplasty? Can I have nose like, for example, Angelina Jolie? And the other question is will my nose get bigger the (when I smile or grimace) after nose job?

A: The first concept to grasp about rhinoplasty surgery is that you can not have  a nose like someone else. While it is important to have a surgical goal, looking like someone else’s nose is not realistic. This is particularly true when it comes to a large nose with thick skin. There are simply limits as to what can be achieved based on the amount and thickness of the nasal skin cover. Whether rhinoplasty is worthwhile for you, or any patient, requires some sense of what the result may be using computer imaging. When done carefully by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon themselves, you will get a much better sense of whether rhinoplasty can make enough of a difference to justify the effort. When I do rhinoplasty computer imaging, I always show the most conservative or least achieveable result that I think can happen. That way if the patient chooses to have rhinoplasty surgery, they will not be disappointed and make even be pleasantly surprised if even more of a result develops.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana