Fixing a Crooked Nose

Rhinoplasty has many beneficial effects for a deviated nose, such as improved structure and shape, but it many situations, it may be best to leave a crooked nose, crooked. This is a philosophy believed to be true after many years of experience performing rhinoplasty surgery for Jeffrey Raval, MD facial plastic surgeon and confirmed in a new study that indicates straightening a crooked nose may exaggerate underlying asymmetry in some cases. For prospective patients with deviated noses, this means that a rhinoplasty procedure would improve the shape of your nose but not address asymmetry in the face overall and may make the facial asymmetries more apparent.

The study considered the before-and-after pictures of 152 patients who chose a rhinoplasty procedure to correct a deviated nose. A pattern in the before-and-after pictures presented itself to the researchers: many patients with deviated noses had facial asymmetry. Researchers concluded that the effect of a rhinoplasty procedure in the presence of facial asymmetry could have an unsatisfying result for patients.

Whether patients require additional surgical techniques or simply to be leave their nose alone, nose reshaping and facial symmetry are linked. "I see this all the time in patients who have never broken their nose but have a natural deviation," says Dr. Raval, "Rhinoplasty surgery for these patients is often still beneficial for improving the nasal tip or removing a bump on the bridge but, in the presence of facial asymmetry, it may be best to leave a deviated nose as is."

"The nose is a bridge between the two sides of the face," he continues, "and maintaining a deviated nose may be the best match for the overall facial asymmetry." Dr. Raval recommends an in-depth consultation to patients who are interested in a satisfying correction to a deviated nose. His office offers computer imaging and simulations for patients who want to simulate the results of surgery.

You can see if the findings of this study are true for you by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Raval by calling (303) 381-3223.

SOURCE:  "Deviated noses may be harder to correct than first thought," Andrew M. Seaman. Reuters Health. 7 May 2015.