Droopy and Bulbous Nose Correction with Self-Rib Cartilage

noselab
2024년 3월 15일
3분 분량

최종 수정일: 2025년 10월 14일

Hello, this is Dr. Chayoung Kang, Director of Noselab Clinic, specializing in closed rhinoplasty in Korea.

Today, I will introduce a real case of droopy and bulbous nose correction performed using self-rib cartilage to achieve a natural and balanced nasal contour.

Preoperative Consultation for Droopy and Bulbous Nose Correction

The patient visited our clinic to correct a wide, flat, and bulbous nose.

The nose tip appeared bulbous due to thick skin and wide alar cartilage, while the glabella (area between the eyebrows) was flat, and the nose tip drooped downward, creating a heavy facial impression.

The main goals were to improve the droopy and bulbous nasal tip, refine the wide base, and enhance three-dimensional definition for a slimmer and more elegant result.

Surgical Plan Using Self-Rib Cartilage and 3D Tip Technique

To correct the bulbous nose appearance, I removed a portion of the subcutaneous tissue and relocated the alar cartilage.

A three-dimensional (3D) nasal tip projection technique was used to enhance height and definition.

This 3D tip technique, combined with self-rib cartilage, is especially effective for thick-skinned bulbous noses, helping to achieve a slimmer and more refined appearance.

Additionally, I planned to raise the flat nasal bridge using a silicone implant, ensuring a natural connection between the bridge and tip for a smoother profile.

Closed Rhinoplasty Procedure and Key Considerations

This droopy and bulbous nose correction was performed entirely through a closed rhinoplasty approach—leaving no external scars.

Because the patient had thick skin and wide nostrils, the creation of a three-dimensional tip projection was the most important surgical step.

A nasolabial angle correction was also performed to lift the droopy columella and improve the facial profile.

This adjustment provided a more lifted and defined tip, while also softening the protruding mouth area and improving overall harmony.

Before and after side view – droopy and bulbous nose correction using self-rib cartilage through closed rhinoplasty (Noselab Clinic)

Photos were taken immediately after the surgery with the consent of the patient. Before the surgery (below), After surgery (above). NOSELAB

Before and after 45-degree view – improved nasal bridge height and lifted droopy tip after bulbous nose correction through closed rhinoplasty (Noselab Clinic)

Photos were taken immediately after the surgery with the consent of the patient. Before the surgery (below), After surgery (above). NOSELAB

Before and after frontal view – droopy and bulbous nose correction using self-rib cartilage through closed rhinoplasty (Noselab Clinic)

Photos were taken immediately after the surgery with the consent of the patient. Before the surgery (left), After surgery (right). NOSELAB

Before and after nostril base view – improved nasal symmetry and refined tip projection after droopy and bulbous nose correction with self-rib cartilage (Noselab Clinic)

Photos were taken immediately after the surgery with the consent of the patient. Before the surgery (left), After surgery (right). NOSELAB

Postoperative Review and Results

Photos were taken immediately after surgery with the patient’s consent.

After the procedure, the nose tip became sharper and more lifted, the bridge line smoother, and the overall nose width visually reduced.

This was a representative case of droopy and bulbous nose correction.

Many patients with bulbous noses wish to make their noses smaller; however, it is impossible to physically reduce nasal size without cutting the skin.

Instead, by removing a portion of subcutaneous tissue and increasing height and volume through the 3D effect, the nose appears smaller, more defined, and naturally proportioned.

In conclusion, the key principle of bulbous nose correction is not to flatten the nose, but to reshape it into a three-dimensional, balanced form that looks slimmer and more refined.

NOSELAB Plastic Surgery Clinic by Dr. Chayoung Kang