Rhinoplasty Q&A
Find answers to rhinoplasty questions from Dr. Kim.
227 questions
How does thick or thin skin affect tip surgery results?
Skin thickness has a major effect on how visible your cartilage work ends up looking.
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Does taking rib cartilage leave a visible scar?
Yes, there is a small scar — but incision length isn't actually the main factor that determines how well it heals.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Can a bulbous (round) nose tip be refined?
Yes — a bulbous or rounded nasal tip is one of the most common concerns addressed in tip plasty, and it's generally caused by wide, weak, or poorly…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Can the tip be raised without changing the bridge?
Yes — tip rotation and projection can be adjusted independently of the bridge, provided the bridge doesn't need to change to stay in visual harmony with…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →How is rib cartilage warping (bending) prevented?
Warping — where a carved piece of rib cartilage gradually curves or twists due to internal tension released during harvesting — is a well-documented…
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Will removing rib cartilage affect my breathing or chest movement?
For the vast majority of patients, no — only a small segment of cartilage is removed, and the rib itself, along with surrounding chest wall function, is left intact.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →How long does rib cartilage last inside the nose?
Rib cartilage is generally considered a permanent structural material — once it integrates with the surrounding tissue, it's designed to provide long-term…
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →How is a droopy (hanging) nasal tip corrected?
A droopy or hanging tip — one that points slightly downward, especially noticeable when smiling — is typically caused by weak tip support structures, an…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Can tip surgery alone fix a wide nose base?
Not entirely — tip surgery reshapes the cartilage that defines the tip's width and projection, but the width of the nose base itself (where the nostrils…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →How is tip projection (how far it sticks out) adjusted?
Tip projection is primarily controlled through a combination of the lower lateral cartilages' inherent shape and a supporting structure — most often a…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →What's the healing timeline specifically for the nasal tip?
The nasal tip generally takes noticeably longer to reach its final shape than the bridge, since the tip involves cartilage and soft tissue that continue…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →What is nasal tip muscle correction?
Nasal tip muscle correction addresses a specific muscle — the depressor septi nasi — which runs from the upper lip to the base of the nasal septum and…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →
The History of Rhinoplasty
The history of rhinoplasty, as Dr. Kim has seen it
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