What a Rhinoplasty Expert Says About Bulbous Nose & Alar Reduction Methods

Beauty standards are constantly changing with the times.

Similarly, the criteria for judging someone based on their first impression also tend to change.

Among these, a ‘bulbous nose’ (bok-ko) was once considered a sign of wealth and good fortune.

However, it is no longer seen as a blessed nose.

Nowadays, a clean and sophisticated nose shape is more popular than a wide, bulbous nose.

The nose, in particular, is located in the center of the face.

For a nose to be considered beautiful, it must form a 'golden ratio' line that is in appropriate proportion with the eyes, mouth, and overall face shape.

Those who have been self-conscious about their nose shape often wish for a change that will balance their facial features.

For such individuals, bulbous nose rhinoplasty, which includes alar reduction, is gaining attention as a suitable solution.

A bulbous nose is characterized by wide and broad nostrils, making the nose appear large even if the bridge is well-defined.

This complex particularly affects women more than men, leading to an increasing number of people deciding to undergo surgery.

There are various methods to improve this.

Improvements can be made through surgical or non-surgical methods.

By reshaping the nostrils, the flat facial contours can be given a three-dimensional effect and enhanced with a triangular ratio, creating a nose shape that harmonizes with the face.

So, let's find out what criteria define a ‘bulbous nose’.

Since everyone has a different face shape, the nose must have an appropriate width.

The most ideal case for nostril width is when it is equal to the distance between the inner corners of the eyes and smaller than the lips.

For those whose nose significantly deviates from this range, bulbous nose rhinoplasty with alar reduction is needed.

This complex is commonly experienced by those who have:

• Wide nostrils that make the nose appear broad.
• A lack of three-dimensionality in the nose, making it look flat.
• Drooping nostrils that resemble an 'arrow nose'.
• A high nasal bridge but a wide nasal tip.

To improve this, wide nostrils can be reduced, and a blunt bulbous nose can be refined into a beautiful nose shape.

However, even if one has a bulbous nose, it is crucial to determine the underlying cause of its formation and then apply the appropriate method to improve wide nostrils and a blunt nose shape.

There are broadly two main categories of methods to improve a bulbous nose:

Non-surgical methods include:

• Alar reduction injections
• Sculpting nose fillers
• Hiko thread lift

Surgical methods include:

• Alar reduction surgery
• Non-open rhinoplasty
• Open rhinoplasty

First, for non-surgical methods to improve a bulbous nose, a delicate procedure must be performed to design the widely spread nostrils to fit the facial proportions, correcting them into a slender nose.

At this time, the nose must be corrected to achieve overall harmony with the face.

Among these methods:

• Alar reduction injections involve injecting harmless substances into the body to address the cause of a wide nose.
• Sculpting nose fillers use highly elastic products to correct the nose from the bridge to the tip into the desired shape.
• Hiko involves inserting dissolvable PDO threads into the nasal tip to act as a support from within the nose, adding three-dimensionality to a blunt nasal tip, thereby addressing wide nostrils and a bulbous nose.

Recently, if the desired results cannot be achieved with Hiko alone, a ‘Triple Hiko’ procedure, combining Hiko with nose fillers and nose slimming injections, can also improve a bulbous nose.

The prices for these procedures range from 150,000 to 400,000 KRW, making them relatively affordable.

When improving a bulbous nose with surgical methods, there is a way to reduce widely spread nostrils to achieve harmony between the face and nose, by reducing them to an ideal nose shape ratio.

Since the procedure is meticulously performed through inconspicuous areas, the burden of scars can be reduced.

Specifically, bulbous nose rhinoplasty, which involves alar reduction, is performed differently depending on its type.

• If only the lower part of the nostrils is wide, the inside of the nose is tied together to gather the nostrils. The shape of the nostrils and width are designed to fit the face shape, and the space between both nostrils is tied with a thread to gather the nasal tip.
• Alternatively, if the skin of the nostrils is thick, the procedure involves reducing the skin tissue. The lower parts of both alar cartilages are excised, reduced in size, gathered, and sutured. The advantage here is that the incision line is along the border of the nostril, making the scar less visible.

After reducing the nostrils in this manner, the procedure concludes with correcting the nose to an appropriate height so that it looks most beautiful on the face.

The price for alar reduction surgery, which provides permanent results, is around 600,000 KRW.

If additional procedures like augmentation rhinoplasty are needed, the cost can range from 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 KRW, with variations depending on the individual.

The reason why bulbous nose improvement methods that reduce wide nostrils are drawing attention is primarily because patients can improve wide nostrils through their preferred method, whether it's a procedural or surgical approach.

Furthermore, not only the bulbous nose but also other areas requiring improvement can be addressed together through a 1:1 diagnosis, allowing for the completion of an ideal nose shape.

It is important to find a medical team that does not simply proceed based on the doctor's recommendation, but rather conducts thorough 1:1 consultations to respect the patient's desired nose shape.

• For those who want a subtle and natural result, a ‘secret nose surgery’ can be performed.
• For those who want a more noticeable and beautiful nose, like a celebrity's, a ‘celebrity nose surgery’ can be performed.

Above all, for procedural methods, it is crucial to find a hospital where a board-certified plastic surgeon directly performs the procedure. For surgical methods, it is important to find a place that performs bulbous nose rhinoplasty with alar reduction using autologous tissue rather than silicone, which has a higher incidence of side effects.

This can reduce wide nostrils without a foreign body sensation and also has the effect of raising a low nasal bridge.

Therefore, if you have been self-conscious about wide nostrils and looking for a solution to improve them, bulbous nose rhinoplasty could be the answer.

Since improvements can be made to the nostrils, alar wings, nasal tip, and nasal bridge, a blunt and low nose becomes slimmer and more defined, allowing you to achieve a sophisticated image.

It is especially important to carefully research and choose a hospital that can improve your nose shape to best suit your face.