Nasal ptosis refers to a nose tip that is elongated or drooping. It may occur due to heredity, nasal trauma, or aging. This can cause a dramatic difference in the appearance of the face, and causes many people to seek a nose job. Rhinoplasty performed to correct tip ptosis is known as 'ptosis repair.'
If you believe that your nasal tip is ptotic, visit a plastic surgeon. The surgeon will be able to evaluate the degree of ptosis and recommend a method for repair. In most cases, ptosis is relatively easily repaired through nose surgery.
Nose surgery (or rhinoplasty) to repair a drooping tip begins with incisions. Minor changes can be made through closed rhinoplasty, in which the only incisions are located inside the nostrils. More substantial changes require an additional incision in the skin between the nostrils, enabling the surgeon to view all of the tissues underlying the nasal tip.
During rhinoplasty to correct a drooping nasal tip, the surgeon will reshape these underlying tissues. The technique used depends on the condition that is causing ptosis. Often, this includes shortening a septum that is too long or repositioning cartilage that gives the nose its elongated appearance. The surgeon may also graft tissues such as cartilage to provide more support, particularly when the nasal drooping is due to the loss of cartilage or bone. In this case, donor cartilage from an ear or rib may be moved to the center of the nose to 'prop up' soft tissues, reducing drooping and preventing tip collapse.
