Rhinoplasty for a Bulbous Tip

One of the most common procedures Dr. Funk performs for his patients is rhinoplasty. Patients desire rhinoplasty procedures for many reasons, and a common one is to correct a bulbous nasal tip, which is when the tip of the nose is wide and round.

What is Bulbous Nose Surgery?

Bulbous nose surgery is a special rhinoplasty procedure that involves reshaping a bulbous, round, or wide tip nose to a more defined nose complimentary to ones face. The bulbosity of the nasal tip is typically due to excessive width to the cartilage, excessive “spring” to the cartilage making them bowed, or cartilages that are spaced to far apart or don’t have definition. Sometimes a bulbous tip can be due to thick nasal tip skin. This, in addition to the cartilage, is frequently seen in ethnic noses.

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What causes a bulbous tip?

Many of my Houston rhinoplasty patients are concerned about their bulbous tip and would like a more refined nasal tip. Bulbous tip causes are most frequently due to misshaped cartilages that form and support the tip of the nose. The cartilages can be too wide, have too much “spring” to them, too much convexity, or simply be too widely spread apart. Another cause of a bulbous nasal tip could be the thickness of the overlying skin. This is especially true with my Houston ethnic rhinoplasty patients. Reshaping the cartilages and debulking of the skin are two methods to create a more refined nasal tip. Lastly, small cartilage grafts from a corrected deviated septum can also be used to refine the tip.

How does Dr. Funk correct a bulbous nasal tip?

Treating the bulbous tip with rhinoplasty is done by removing small edges of the cartilage to refine them and using suturing techniques to create a sharper but yet natural nasal tip. Sometimes, cartilage grafts are necessary to create a more refined nasal tip in patients. Lastly, thinning of the nasal tip skin may be necessary for thick skinned patients.

What is the cost for a bulbous tip rhinoplasty?

This is one of the most common questions we receive from patients considering rhinoplasty. The cost of a bulbous tip rhinoplasty will vary on many factors. Since refining the tip of the nose is a cosmetic change, this may not be covered by your insurance. Fees will include the surgeon's, anesthesia, and facility fees for these aesthetic changes desired.

If you have breathing problems due to a deviated septum, allergies, or repeated sinus infections that require surgery, this portion of your surgery will be paid by your insurance (depending on the extent of your benefits). This will fray the cost of cosmetic fees for the facility where Dr. Funk performs surgery and the anesthesia fees. The majority of their bill will be paid by your insurance company (again, depending on your insurance benefits).

What is the recovery time after surgery?

Recovery is eight days. On day six after surgery, Dr. Funk will remove your cast and some stitches. He will retape your nose and on day eight after surgery he will remove that tape and all the stitches. You are social at this point! Most if not all of your bruising is gone by then. The nose will be swollen at this point but not noticeable to others. As the months pass by, your swelling will decline. At 3 weeks, 20-30% of swelling is down. At 6 weeks 50-60% of swelling has abated. It will take a full year for all the swelling to subside. However, most of Dr. Funk's patients are thrilled with the appearance of their once the tape comes off and know it will only get smaller over time.