Over Projected Nose
All cosmetic surgery involves risks and individual results vary. Cosmetic surgery is a serious decision. Decisions about whether to proceed should be made after careful consideration and following at least two consultations with a qualified medical practitioner.
Nasal tip projection refers to how far the nasal tip extends forward from the face. When the tip projects further than is proportionate to the rest of the nose and face, patients may seek rhinoplasty to address this. The assessment and surgical planning of tip projection is among the more complex aspects of rhinoplasty.
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What Causes Increased Tip Projection?
The most common causes of an over-projected nasal tip are overgrowth of the lower lateral (tip) cartilages, an overly long or prominent caudal (front portion of the) nasal septum that pushes the tip cartilages forward, or a combination of both. It can be a primary feature of the nose present from early development, or can occasionally result from previous rhinoplasty where tip support structures were over-built.
Surgical Approach
Reducing tip projection requires careful planning — the tip does not exist in isolation and changes to it have knock-on effects on the dorsal profile, the nasolabial angle, and the overall proportions of the nose. The surgical approach typically involves one or more of the following:
Tip deprojection is a technically demanding procedure and requires thorough pre-operative planning. Changes to tip projection affect the entire nasal profile, and the consequences for the dorsum, tip rotation, and nasolabial angle must all be considered. Two consultations are always required before any rhinoplasty proceeds.
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Specialist Otolaryngologist & Head and Neck Surgeon
Specialist registration — Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery
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Dr Roth’s Clinical Perspective
Over-projection is one of the rhinoplasty concerns where the consultation discussion about proportions is particularly important. Reducing tip projection changes the nasolabial angle, the apparent length of the nose, and the relationship between the tip and the dorsum — and these changes need to be planned together rather than simply reducing projection in isolation. A tip that was previously over-projected but had good definition can look pinched or poorly supported if deprojection is not accompanied by appropriate structural management. I use computer imaging at consultation specifically for projection changes so patients can see the proportional consequences before any decision is made.
— Dr Jason Roth, MBBS, FRACS (ORL-HNS), IBCFPRS
Specialist Otolaryngologist & Head and Neck Surgeon
Specialist registration — Otorhinolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery
View full profile | Rhinoplasty Surgery →
