See how it is possible to elevate a severely ptotic, or droopy, nasal tip with rib cartilage grafting.
The droopy or ptotic tip can be a problem that occurs with aging as the nasal tip support becomes weaker. In other cases the tip may point downward naturally or due to trauma. In any case, rhinoplasty can be used to reposition the tip in a more rotated, less droopy position.
Droopy Nasal Tip Case Study
This patient is a great example of what can happen if tip support is lost. He had a prior septoplasty many years ago that somehow led to the removal of a large portion of his caudal septum. Unfortunately, the caudal septum plays a vital role in supporting the tip in its proper position. The patient spent years trying to find a surgeon who would be able to repair his nose. He suffered from significant nasal obstruction that was improved if he manually lifted his tip into a more normal position.
This before and after profile photo shows the improvement I was able to provide the patient by rebuilding his missing septum. Given the patient's age and lack of suitable septal cartilage I used irradiated rib cartilage to rebuild the nose. The patient's own rib cartilage would have been too calcified and his ear cartilage would not be strong enough for rebuilding the septum.
This base photo illustrates how narrowed the patient's collapsed tip had become.
With lifting the tip a much more open and naturally appearing nasal base is noted. Importantly, the patient reports much better breathing since having his surgery.
