Your Guide to Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty: Causes, Treatment & Recovery | Facial Surgery & Aesthetics Center (2024)

November 13, 2019 Written by: Michael Menachof Categories: Rhinoplasty

Dr. Menachof, MD, FACS has performed thousands of facial plastic surgery procedures in over 20 years of experience. He has been recognized as a Fellow by multiple academies, named one of America’s Top Facial Plastic Surgeons continually since 2003 and is featured in multiple national publications.

The nose is a very prominent facial feature, and there are various reasons people seek rhinoplasty. Luckily, for those who are born with nasal features that they would like to change, there are surgical treatments that can alter the nose.

What is a bulbous tip rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, also referred to as a nose job, is a form of plastic surgery in which the nose is resized or reshaped. A common reason why patients seek nasal reshaping is due to their rounded, or bulbous, nasal tip. In this case, patients describe their nose as having a round, wide tip without definition.

What Causes a Bulbous Tip?

A bulbous tip can be caused by a combination of things — poorly defined hypertrophic lower lateral cartilages, a round dome shape, heavy soft-tissue coverage or poor cartilage strength. The solution to a bulbous tip is determined by the cause. However, rhinoplasty commonly reshapes the nose to create more of a soft, pointed appearance.

Bulbous Tip Treatment Options

Contemporary rhinoplasty techniques allow the bulbous tip to be refined without compromising nasal structure. Treating the bulbous nasal tip with rhinoplasty involves refining and reconfiguring small cartilage edges, along with suturing techniques to create a sharper yet natural nasal tip. For thicker skinned patients, thinning of the nasal tip skin may be necessary. This practice ensures a stable long-term functional and aesthetic result.

Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty Recovery

The recovery for bulbous tip rhinoplasty is approximately one and a half to two weeks. During this time, the patient should rest with their head in an elevated position as much as possible. The cast and stitches will be removed a little after a week, and taping will be removed in the following couple of days. The nose will still be swollen, but not noticeable. Swelling will decline as the months pass — three weeks after the procedure, 20-30 percent of the swelling will be down. Six weeks following the procedure, 50-60 percent of swelling will be down. It will take a full year for all of the swelling to subside, 90 percent of it subsiding in the three months following the procedure. The tip usually takes the longest to heal.

The patient can resume the following activities at these times:

Driving: Five to seven days after surgery
Non-contact sports (jogging, swimming, hiking, etc.): Three to four weeks after surgery
Contact sports (tennis, skiing, football, basketball, etc.): Six weeks after surgery
Diving: Eight to 12 weeks after surgery

After the procedure, the nose will be proportional in size and width, such that the bridge gently blends and transitions into the nasal tip. Typically, this will fit better with the patient’s face and highlight his or her other features.

A Nose Job Failure: Revision Rhinoplasty

A nose job failure sounds like a scary thing. But, before you determine that your rhinoplasty has failed, it’s important to know about rhinoplasty healing time and side effects.

How young is too young for a rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasties should only be performed after nose growth ends. A surgeon will be able to tell if a nose has finished growing. A rhinoplasty should also be performed only if the patient has the emotional maturity to handle facial surgery.

Rhinoplasty and Teens

Rhinoplasty is the most common plastic surgery performed for teenagers. The procedure enhances the appearance of the nose and aligns it with the rest of the patient’s facial features. Physical appearance plays a key role in teenage confidence, but a rhinoplasty procedure should only be considered if ...