Closed Rhinoplasty Korea | Correction of Pinocchio-Like and Crooked Nose with Midface Proportion Improvement – Autologous Rib Cartilage Reconstruction [Nose Lab Clinic]

Hello, this is Dr. Cha-Young Kang, Medical Director at Nose Lab Clinic.

Today, I'd like to introduce a case of closed rhinoplasty in Korea where we successfully corrected a Pinocchio–like nose, nasal deviation, and breathing discomfort caused by previous surgeries. Through autologous rib cartilage reconstruction, crooked nose correction, and septal reconstruction, we achieved both functional and aesthetic improvements.

📍  Closed Rhinoplasty Korea – Surgical History

Preoperative design consultation photos: Frontal view, left oblique side view, and left side view.

10 years ago

• Ear cartilage + silicone implant

• Result: Bulky nasal tip with no significant change

2 years ago

• Autologous rib cartilage + silicone at another clinic

• Result: Nose appeared excessively high and Pinocchio-like, with nasal deviation and breathing difficulty

🔎 Initial Assessment

Preoperative design consultation photos: Right side view, right oblique side view, and nostril view.

Patient Profile

• Nasal obstruction symptoms

• Multiple complications from previous surgeries

Primary Concerns

• Pinocchio-like nose with excessive height and unnatural appearance

• Crooked nose with significant asymmetry

• Persistently bulky nasal tip

• Breathing difficulties

• Elongated midface appearance

Structural Issues

• Severe septal damage

• Excessive nasal height

• Unnatural nasal profile

• Combined functional impairment

✨ Patient Goals

• Slimmer nasal tip

• Visually shorter midface

• Straight, symmetrical nose

💉 Surgical Plan and Procedures

Autologous Rib Cartilage Reconstruction

• Complete removal of existing silicone

• Full nasal reconstruction using autologous rib cartilage

• Adjusted to achieve natural height

Septal Reconstruction

• Total reconstruction of the severely damaged septum

• Used autologous rib cartilage to restore nasal structure

• Breathing function improvement

Crooked Nose Correction

• Realigned the nasal midline

• Restored bilateral symmetry

• Created a straight nasal profile

Alar Base Reduction

• Narrowed the widened nasal base

• Refined nostril shape

• Improved overall nasal balance

Glabellar Starting Point Adjustment

• Lowered the nasal starting point at the glabella

• Created a smooth transition and natural starting point

• Softer nasal profile

Columellar Angle Correction

• Improved nasolabial angle for better facial harmony

• Enhanced midface shortening effect

• Optimized nasal projection

✅ Surgical Outcomes

Natural Nasal Height

• Resolved the previously excessive height

• Achieved facially balanced nasal projection

• Created a natural nasal profile

Complete Correction of Crooked Nose

• Accurately realigned nasal midline

• Restored left-right symmetry

• Achieved a straight, balanced nose

Closed Rhinoplasty for Crooked Nose Correction – Preoperative and Immediate Postoperative Video

Frontal View

• Straight nasal alignment

• Refined and sophisticated nasal tip

• Balanced nostrils

• Visually shortened midface

Before Surgery (Left) / Immediately After Surgery (Right)

Profile View

• Natural nasal height

• Improved columellar angle

• Ideal nasal projection

• Harmonized facial contour

Before Surgery (Left) / Immediately After Surgery (Right)

Refined Nasal Tip

• Slimmer, more defined tip

• Significant improvement from both frontal and profile views

• Naturally contoured tip shape

Before Surgery (Left) / Immediately After Surgery (Right)

Midface Shortening Effect

• Lowered nasal starting point created the appearance of a shorter midface

• Columellar angle correction further enhanced the effect

• Improved overall facial balance

Before Surgery (Left) / Immediately After Surgery (Right)

Functional Improvement

• Resolved nasal obstruction

• Restored comfortable breathing

• Simultaneous aesthetic and functional success

👨‍⚕️ Specialist’s Commentary

Immediately after surgery: Frontal view, side view, and oblique side view photos.

Immediately after surgery: Nostril view photos.

This case involved a patient who, despite two prior rhinoplasty procedures, was left dissatisfied with the results. The most critical issues were the excessively high, Pinocchio-like appearance and a crooked nasal axis, accompanied by significant breathing difficulties.

✔️ This patient required closed rhinoplasty Korea to achieve both functional and aesthetic correction.

The fundamental problem was the unnatural nasal height from the previous surgery, which did not consider the patient’s facial proportions. Simply increasing height without balancing the overall facial structure can lead to exaggerated and artificial results, as was the case here. To correct this, we completely removed the existing silicone and reconstructed the nose using autologous rib cartilage to achieve a balanced, natural profile.

The patient's septum was severely damaged from the prior surgeries. Complete septal reconstruction using autologous rib cartilage reconstruction was essential, not only for aesthetic correction but also to restore breathing function.

To achieve the midface shortening effect the patient desired, we employed a multi-faceted surgical approach. By lowering the nasal starting point and refining the nasolabial angle, we successfully created the illusion of a shorter nose and midface. Additionally, these changes subtly improved the appearance of the patient's mild protrusive lips, contributing to overall facial harmony.

Alar base reduction played a crucial role in narrowing the overly wide nasal base from prior procedures, significantly improving frontal aesthetics.

The crooked nose correction in closed rhinoplasty Korea was also highly successful. By realigning both the internal and external structures, we achieved a straight, symmetrical nasal profile, enhancing both aesthetics and breathing function.

Finally, we addressed the persistently bulky nasal tip, a problem unresolved since the first surgery a decade ago. By reconstructing the nasal tip using autologous rib cartilage, we achieved a refined, well-supported, and natural tip contour.

Ultimately, we were able to meet all of the patient’s goals: resolving the Pinocchio–like appearance, correcting the nasal deviation, visually shortening the midface, and, most importantly, restoring comfortable breathing, through closed rhinoplasty Korea and autologous rib cartilage reconstruction.

This case is a prime example of how precise analysis and a proportion-focused approach can lead to successful outcomes, even in complex revision surgeries.

Thank you.Dr. Cha-Young KangMedical Director, Nose Lab Clinic

##Closed Rhinoplasty Korea | Correction of Pinocchio-Like and Crooked Nose with Midface Proportion Improvement – Autologous Rib Cartilage Reconstruction [Nose Lab Clinic]