Why an upturned tip makes the mouth look more protruding and how to correct it

Hello, I am Dr. Peter C. Kang.

Today, I would like to share a case of a patient who visited our clinic concerned about a bulbous, upturned nasal tip.

The patient had undergone rhinoplasty and columellar filler injections at another clinic about 2 years ago.

The patient wished to correct the bulbous, upturned nasal tip while maintaining a natural feel without an excessive change. The patient desired a defined yet natural nose line and particularly hoped to reduce the appearance of a protruding mouth. Improving symptoms of nasal obstruction was also a key goal.

1. Removal of existing filler

The filler previously injected into the columella was safely removed.

2. Nasal tip plasty using autologous rib cartilage

By reinforcing nasal tip support, we established a defined tip height and lowered the upturned tip naturally, achieving the effect of reducing the appearance of a protruding mouth.

3. Custom-carved silicone implant

The implant was precisely carved to match the nasal bone contours, creating a defined straight bridge line flowing from the forehead to the nasal tip.

4. Nasolabial angle correction

Improving the profile silhouette maximized the visual reduction of the protruding mouth.

5. Septoplasty for deviated septum and rhinitis surgery

We corrected the deviated septum causing the nasal obstruction and performed inferior turbinate reduction to secure clear nasal passages.

Front view changes:

• The previously bulbous nasal tip has become defined and refined, creating an overall sophisticated nose line.

Profile view changes:

• The upturned nasal tip has been naturally brought down, creating a smooth straight bridge line from the forehead to the tip. You can observe a refined profile silhouette with reduced appearance of a protruding mouth.

Nostril view changes:

• Excessive nostril show from the upturned position has decreased, and with the refined nasal tip, the overall nostril shape has improved.

An upturned nose and a protruding mouth are closely related. When the nasal tip is turned upward, the mouth relatively appears more prominent; thus, properly adjusting the height and angle of the nasal tip can reduce the look of a protruding mouth on its own.

In this type of case, we reinforced the tip support structure using autologous rib cartilage and carved a silicone implant to fit the nasal bone, creating a straight bridge line that connects naturally from the forehead to the nasal tip. In addition, the functional discomfort of nasal obstruction was addressed simultaneously through deviated septum correction and inferior turbinate reduction.

Achieving aesthetic and functional improvements at the same time is key to patient satisfaction in cases like this.

This was Dr. Peter C. Kang. Thank you.

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