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8 Common Signs of a Bad Rhinoplasty

Dr. Philip Miller

October 13, 2022

As the central feature on the face, the nose has a profound impact on your appearance overall.  Rhinoplasty is a plastic surgery procedure that can reshape and resize the nose to create facial harmony. When performed by a highly trained, board-certified plastic surgeon, rhinoplasty can provide seamless alterations and coveted results. However, it is also a delicate process that can go less than perfect at times, sometimes requiring a revision surgery to produce a better result.

Signs of a bad nose job

A bad nose job can lead to cosmetic and functional problems, and the need for revision rhinoplasty. Wondering if you’ve experienced a bad rhinoplasty? Here are the most common signs of a bad nose job:  

1. Bridge is Too Low (Scooped Profile)

A low bridge can occur when a surgeon uses a chisel or osteotome. This tool requires precision and can effectively remove a portion of the bridge in one movement. Sometimes that movement is in the wrong place, or the tool can remove too much tissue or cartilage, creating a bridge that is too low. From the side, it can look like a scooped profile. In some cases, the chisel can cause severe damage and weaken the nasal structure, leading to a collapsed nose.

Revision rhinoplasty to correct nasal bridge and tip on a female patient by Dr. Miller. Surgery creates straighter nasal bridge and refines the tip for a more aesthetically pleasing facial profile.

2. Nose Looks Pinched (also pinched nostrils)

After a rhinoplasty procedure, the nose or nostrils can look pinched, making the nose look long and slender. Not only can this bad nose job look unsightly, but it can also result in difficulty breathing due to a narrow passageway that does not allow enough airflow. This common sign of a botched rhinoplasty can result from removing too much internal nostril tissue, resulting in slits for nostrils rather than round holes. It is important to correct this mistake for adequate breathing.

Rhinoplasty to strengthen nasal bridge and refine tip of a female patient by Dr. Miller. Surgery also opens up nostrils and improves nose symmetry.

3. Nose Turns Up Too Much

When a rhinoplasty aims to shorten the nose, it can lead to many common side effects that rotate the tip upward too much or leave the tip at an irregular angle. Large amounts of removed tissue from the septum is a poor attempt to raise the nose and a sign of a bad nose job. A nose that is turned up too much can look like a pig snout. This effect is also common due to swelling after surgery but swelling-related issues should dissipate in several weeks. If the nose tip does not drop during the recovery process, revision surgery may be necessary. 

Rhinoplasty, chin implant, and fat grafting for facial enhancement by Dr. Miller. After surgery, facial contour is more proportionate and youthful.

4. Nose Has Pollybeak Deformity

Pollybeak deformity is when the area above the tip is too full and makes the nose protrude downward, looking like a bird beak. This can occur from unpredictable healing but is most often due to a bad nose job. Sometimes not enough cartilage is removed, and the excess tissue in the supratip area can force the nose shape downward. In addition to the cosmetic concern, this mistake can also result in difficulty breathing from one or both nostrils. Pollybeak deformity can also occur due to aggressive removal of a dorsal hump without considering reshaping the area and remaining tissue.

Rhinoplasty to straighten nasal bridge and improve nose size on a male patient by Dr. Miller. After surgery bridge is straighter, hook on tip is gone, and nose size is proportionate to the rest of the face.

5. Nasal Tip is Same Width as Bridge

In a typical nose shape, the tip should be slightly wider than the bridge for an appealing and cohesive form. A bad rhinoplasty procedure overlooks this knowledge when reshaping and sizing problem areas. When the nasal tip and bridge are the same width, the nose can look unnatural. 

revision rhinoplasty after a bad nose job in new york

6. Nostrils are Too Wide or Asymmetrical

As a prominent feature, any mistake on the nose is highly noticeable. Disproportionate or asymmetrical nostrils are a common sign of a bad nose job and can be easily prevented with exceptional skill and a strong sense of aesthetics.

bad nose job correction results in new york city

7. Nose is Not Proportionate to Other Facial Features

The main goal of rhinoplasty is to create facial balance and an aesthetically pleasing nose shape and size that flows seamlessly with other features. When a nose job is poorly executed, it can look like your nose does not belong with your other features. Rhinoplasty must be a personalized procedure to ensure proper proportion and flow.

Rhinoplasty to adjust the nasal tip and remove dorsal hump by Dr. Miller. After surgery, bridge is straighter and tip is slightly rotated to improve patient profile.

8. You Notice Breathing Difficulty

A cosmetic nose job should not impact the function of the nose. Difficulty breathing is a sure sign of a bad nose job. This error is more common with reductive procedures as too much tissue or cartilage is removed, reducing the internal and external passageway for poor airflow.

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Revision rhinoplasty surgeon in New York

If you had a bad rhinoplasty procedure, you may be a candidate for revision rhinoplasty. Revision procedures are often more complex than the initial nose job, so it is critical to choose an experienced, skilled surgeon to perform your procedure and ensure a better outcome. .

Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon specializing in cosmetic facial procedures that help patients achieve their aesthetic goals. Dr. Miller is a leading expert in rhinoplasty and facial rejuvenation, focusing on comprehensive treatment plans for natural results. He uses the NatraLook® process, which empowers patients to explore their aesthetic beauty and provides a supportive space to discuss a unified vision.

Contact us to schedule a consultation at our New York or New Orleans office and learn more about rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. 

Dr. Philip Miller

Focusing exclusively on the face for more than two decades, double-board certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller blends art and science with innovation and skill to provide thousands of patients with impeccable results. He is known for pioneering the NatraLook methodology for rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, and other cosmetic procedures for the face.

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Rhinoplasty (Nose Jobs)

Dr. Miller and his staff of NYC's best aesthetic specialists offer the NatraNose® process, which is a comprehensive range of minimally-invasive and advanced techniques to achieve natural-looking rhinoplasty results, improve nasal function, and meet the patient’s aesthetic goals. Dr. Miller specializes in nose jobs, nose reductions, non-surgical nose jobs, and more: Adjust the links in these sections as follows:

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Philip J. Miller, MD, FACS, is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience working with male and female patients. He specializes in facial plastic surgery and is recognized as an expert in facial rejuvenation procedures. Utilizing the most advanced surgical techniques, Dr. Miller can maintain or enhance masculine features while producing the most natural-looking results.

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Tune into The Plastic Surgery Podcast, hosted by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Philip Miller. Dr. Miller is here to answer your questions, de-mystify plastic surgery, and help you feel more knowledgeable and empowered about any procedure performed at our center.

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    Episode 44: My First Time

    8 min
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    Episode 43: Top 10 Reasons Not To Get A Rhinoplasty ( Plastic Surgery)

    20 min
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    Episode 42 : Osteomas & Lipomas

    11 min
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    Episode 41: All Ears Considered!

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    Episode 40: Infrared Light Therapy

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    Episode 39: Beauty, the Plateau

    6 min
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    Episode 38: Botox and Dermal Fillers

    3 min
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    Episode 37: Cost of Rhinoplasty

    1 min
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    Episode 36: Different Types of Nasal Surgeries

    3 min
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    Episode 35: Do You Have to Break the Nose for Rhinoplasty?

    2 min
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    Episode 34: Do You Have to Stay Overnight After Having a Rhinoplasty?

    2 min
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    Episode 33: Don't Have a Rhinoplasty!

    2 min
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    Episode 32: Endonasal or External

    1 min
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    Episode 31: Are You a Candidate?

    2 min
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    Episode 30: In The Office

    17 min
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    Episode 29: Can My Nose be Made Smaller?

    4 min
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    Episode 28: Can't Breath Through Nose

    3 min
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    Episode 27: Chin Implants - Mentoplasty

    2 min
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    Episode 26: Columellar Struts

    23 sec
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    Episode 25: Common Terms

    5 min
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    Episode 24: Connection Between Facial Resurfacing and Tattooing

    5 min
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    Episode 23: The Sooner, The Better?

    4 min
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