Many of my Houston patients coming in for rhinoplasty consultation or ethnic rhinoplasty consultation are concerned about their wide nostrils or what they typically describe as flared nostrils. The terminology here can be confusing. Wide nostrils or ala are basically ala that insert onto the face at a wide distance. In the caucasian female, the nostrils width should lie within the medial corner of each eye. Obviously this may look too pinched with male rhinoplasty or ethnic rhinoplasty patients such as Asian or African-American. Flared nostrils are nostrils that curve out excessively from the insertion onto the cheek/upper lip junction. There are different methods of addressing wide nostrils and curved nostrils which is why it is essential to differentiate the two when performing rhinoplasty.

Dr. Funk is a top rhinoplasty surgeon in Houston, Texas.