Rhinoplasty From Every Angle

Anand Patel • February 24, 2021

The nose can look drastically different depending on which angle it is viewed from. Some people feel their nose is symmetrical from the front but not as straight from the side. Others have a nice profile (side view) but believe their nose is too wide or too narrow when viewed from the front. A nose job, or rhinoplasty, can correct the proportions of the nose so that it looks balanced from all viewpoints.

The Front View

From the front, the nose should ideally be shaped like an hourglass from top to bottom. The tip looks best when symmetrical and tight enough to create a more triangular appearance from the bottom. These are the most common concerns individuals have with the front view of their nose:

Too wide
Too narrow/"pinched"
Crooked (sometimes genetic, but often trauma-related)

Here are some examples of patients that had the front view of their nose corrected with rhinoplasty by Dr. Anand Patel.

Before

This patient felt her nose was a source of unwanted attention because of the crooked bridge and boxy tip.

After

With correction, her nose blends better with her face.

The Side View (Profile)

From the side, our goal is to create an even flow from the top of the bridge to the nasal tip. Men often prefer a strong profile (either straight or slightly rugged) while women usually want theirs to appear soft and feminine with a slight upward curve at the tip. The most common concerns individuals have with the side view of their nose are:

A dorsal hump
Low bridge/ saddle nose
Over-projected or under-projected tip
Upturned or downturned nose
Too much or too little nostril show

The photos below are examples of patients that had the side view of their nose corrected with rhinoplasty.

Before

This patient was unhappy with the hump on the bridge of her nose.

After

Reducing the hump and allowing a slight curve in the tip makes her nose look soft and feminine.

Before

This patient felt her nose was too short. She wanted to better define her nasal bridge and lower her nasal tip.

After

Rib cartilage was used to add structure to the bridge to create a straighter profile.

The Oblique View

Oftentimes, people do not see us directly from the front or the side, but more of an in-between view in which our noses can look drastically different. From this view, there may be an indentation just above the tip that accentuates a hump on the bridge. The goal of surgery is to create a smooth appearance from top to bottom, no matter the angle.

Here are the most common concerns from an oblique view:

Bulbous tip
Bumpy nose
Hanging columella
Droopy tip

Before

This patient's nose looked bumpy from an oblique angle.

Visit our rhinoplasty information page to read more about reshaping the nose with rhinoplasty. You can also view more before and after photos in our female rhinoplasty gallery and our male rhinoplasty gallery. If you're interested in scheduling a phone consultation, click here.

Dr. Anand Patel specializes in surgical and nonsurgical treatments for the face and neck at Visage Facial Plastic Surgery in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. He is double board certified with the American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and American Board of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery.

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