A symmetrical face plays a vital role in deciding how the onlooker perceives your beauty. As a prominent part, the nose determines the degree of your facial symmetry. So, having a crooked nose will have a negative effect on how your overall face appears. Though several factors like developmental problems, deviated septum, genetics, or trauma can contribute to a crooked nose, it might also cause difficulty in breathing or cosmetic woes. It is essential to understand the causes that contribute to nasal deviation to identify the right treatment to rectify it. Non-surgical solutions and surgical treatments are available for crooked nose correction. Keep reading as we dig deeper to identify the root causes behind the crooked nose issue and explore the treatment options along with their cost, recovery, and more.
What Is a Crooked Nose and Why Does It Occur?
If your nose has a slight or more pronounced degree of curvature instead of having a straight line vertically across the face center, it indicates a crooked nose [1]. While a crooked nose with subtle curvature remains a cosmetic issue, one with prominent curvature can cause difficulty in breathing. Usually, the nose bridge of an individual will be straight, running between the brows to extend towards the tip. Any deviation in this straight nose bridge will be classified as [2]:
- S-shape: The deviated nose will curve towards the upper part on one side and then extend to the lower half.
- C-shape: The curvature of the nasal bridge would be in C shape towards the left or right.
- I-shape: The nose will be straight but might stay off-center as it runs from your brows towards the tip, indicating an uneven bridge [3].
How a Deviated Septum Affects Nose Alignment
You might have a deviated septum if the wall dividing the nasal passages, referred to as the nasal septum, completely leans towards one side [4]. Such an off-center position of the nasal septum is known as deviated and makes one part of your internal nasal cavity appear smaller. So, one part of your nose remains blocked by the deviated septum, and the airflow exchange will be reduced, leading to breathing difficulty. Plus, a deviated septum might also make your nose appear crooked and affect the overall look of your face. Here’s how a deviated septum affects nasal alignment:
- Visible Crookedness: A severely deviated septum will affect the internal and external look of your nose, making it appear disproportionate, deformed, and crooked.
- Uneven Nasal Cavity: A deviated septum might make your nasal passage look uneven as the cartilage and bone shift to one side of the nasal cavity. So, one part of the nasal passage will appear smaller while the other part appears bigger.
- Obstructs Airflow: As one side of the nasal passages has less space, the level of airflow is obstructed. So, it is natural for you to experience breathing difficulties on that side of the nasal cavity with extreme snoring during sleep and a noisy breathing pattern.
- Causes Sinus Infections: A deviated septum can obstruct the drainage of sinus points in the face, causing accumulation of mucus and development of frequent sinus infections.
- Recurrent Headaches: The misalignment of the septum will put excess pressure on one part of your face, causing extreme headaches and facial pain.
- High Chances of Nosebleeds: The change in the structure of the nasal passages due to a deviated septum will not only alter airflow but will irritate your nasal lining due to dryness. So, the chances of developing nosebleeds are extremely high.
Non-Surgical Correction Using Dermal Fillers
If you have a subtle level of crookedness, you can opt for non-surgical methods like dermal fillers to rectify it. This non-invasive procedure is referred to as liquid rhinoplasty, which utilizes hyaluronic acid as a dermal filler for temporarily rectifying a crooked nose condition. It is useful for smoothing and augmenting slight nose imperfections like tip refinement, minor asymmetry correction, and dorsal hump camouflaging. This 30-minute procedure will address minor crookedness by injecting the filler to enhance nose volume. This treatment option is non-invasive, needs no downtime, and causes zero discomfort. However, the outcome of dermal fillers for a crooked nose is temporary and requires periodic treatments to maintain the results. This procedure is ideal for masking asymmetry and creates an illusion of a straight nose, as it doesn’t rectify the nasal bone structure.
Surgical Solutions: Septoplasty and Rhinoplasty Explained
Surgical treatment options for a crooked nose are effective in addressing the irregular shape and structure of the nasal cavity to promote breathing function and enhance facial aesthetics [5]. However, it is essential to consult a skilled plastic surgeon to identify the exact root cause behind your nose asymmetry to determine the right surgical option.
Rhinoplasty
This surgical procedure is designed to alter both the size and shape of your nose to improve its overall look [6]. It focuses on reshaping the nasal cartilage and bone structure to promote facial symmetry. This cosmetic procedure is ideal for enhancing the overall appearance of the nose and can correct the nasal bone structure to improve breathing function. Two major variants of rhinoplasty are:
- Closed Rhinoplasty: This surgical option helps in rectifying the anomalies inside the nostrils to improve breathing and asymmetrical structure. This rhinoplasty technique doesn’t leave any visible scars and helps you recover quickly. Your surgeon would suggest this surgical approach to rectify mild crooked nose issues that don’t demand any extensive structural alterations.
- Open Rhinoplasty: This technique is performed by making a small incision at the base of the nostrils to help the surgeon refine and reshape the nasal structure with excellent precision. This rhinoplasty method is ideal for people with a severe degree of crookedness and extensive reshaping to enhance breathing.
Both these variants of rhinoplasty are effective in straightening crooked nose crookedness to improve facial balance and breathing.
Septoplasty
This surgical option is beneficial for people facing both alignment and breathing issues due to a high degree of crookedness by offering long-term outcomes [7]. It is usually caused by internal nasal obstructions or a deviated septum. It is usually performed alone [8] or in combination with functional rhinoplasty to achieve nose symmetry and rectify structural defects [9]. This surgical solution for a crooked nose helps in improving airflow to promote breathing and enhances nasal alignment [10]. It is performed during conditions like:
- Breathing difficulty or severe nasal congestion in one nostril
- Internal structural anomalies that lead to a visible crooked nose
- Development of recurring sinus infections owing to restriction in airflow
- Facing sleep deprivation or loud snoring due to extreme nasal obstruction
What to Expect Before and After Surgery
Before Nose Surgery
- Consult the plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns, goals, and decide on the right procedure to correct the crookedness.
- Undergo medical evaluation, including both physical examination and blood work, to determine whether you are healthy enough for rhinoplasty or septoplasty.
- Stop your blood-thinning medications if your surgeon advises the same.
- You will be required to fast before the nose procedure for at least six hours.
After Nose Surgery
- Your surgeon would ask you to wear a nose splint and internal packing to protect the treated area.
- You may have slight internal bleeding, discomfort, swelling, and mild pain, which can be handled with pain medication.
- Sometimes, a drip pad will be placed at the base of the nose to absorb blood or mucus, which needs regular replacement.
- After a week of nose surgery, you can get back to work.
- Avoid blowing the nose and strenuous work for a few weeks.
- Do not wear glasses for about 5 weeks after surgery for a crooked nose, as it may apply pressure on the nasal bridge.
- You will notice a straightened nose after the swelling goes away, and this may even take 8 to 12 months.
- Set up follow-up meetings with the surgeon to prevent risks like infections and nose bleeds, and heal quickly.
Cost and Recovery Timeline for Crooked Nose Surgery
- Recovery Period: It might take between 6 and 12 months for your nose to acquire the perfect straight shape without any trace of crookedness [11]. The results of crooked nose surgery will become visible once the swelling has completely subsided.
- Cost of Crooked Nose Surgery: When opting for the surgical method to rectify a crooked nose at a renowned facility like Akruti, the cost of rhinoplasty in Hyderabad will be between Rs. 75000 and Rs. 2,50,000.
Why Expertise Matters in Nose Reshaping Procedures
- The nose correction surgery, when performed by an expert plastic surgeon, will help achieve personalized and natural results to improve your facial features.
- The expertise of your surgeon determines both functional and aesthetic outcomes to correct asymmetry and regulate airflow.
- An expert surgeon will ensure complications like nasal structure damage, breathing issues, and changes in smell are prevented.
- A well-experienced surgeon in rhinoplasty can create long-term outcomes even with aging and alteration in nasal structure.
Reference Links:
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- Facial Plastic Surgery Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090074014000784
- Kavuzlu A, Şahin E. A Useful Approach to I-Shaped Crooked Nose Correction: Cross-Spreader Graft Technique. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2022 Apr;46(2):833-840. doi: 10.1007/s00266-021-02571-2. Epub 2021 Sep 23. PMID: 34557929. – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34557929/
- Vol. 1 No. 3 (2012) , Article ID: 24807 , 8 pages DOI:10.4236/ijohns.2012.13016 – https://www.scirp.org/html/5-2460038_24807.htm
- Abdelhamid AS, Elzayat S, Elsherif HS, Amer MA, Most SP. Crooked Nose: Aesthetic and Functional Outcomes. Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Oct;76(5):4012-4018. doi: 10.1007/s12070-024-04765-x. Epub 2024 Jun 12. PMID: 39376392; PMCID: PMC11456042. – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11456042/
- Marc H. Hohman; Matias Fichman; Ignacio T. Piedra Buena. Uniformed Services University/Madigan Army Medical Center – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558970/
- Behroz Gandomi MD, Akbar Bayat MD, Tayebe Kazemei MD: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Khalili Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0196070909000246
- Afroza Suraya Majumder: Department of ENT, Head & Neck Surgery, Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh – https://www.ijsurgery.com/index.php/isj/article/view/11177
- Pradhan P, Kharwanlang M, Preetam C, Parida PK. Partial Extracorporeal Septoplasty in Crooked Noses. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 May;48(9):1715-1721. doi: 10.1007/s00266-023-03589-4. Epub 2023 Aug 21. PMID: 37605016. – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37605016/
- Carrie S, Fouweather T, Homer T, O’Hara J, Rousseau N, Rooshenas L, Bray A, Stocken DD, Ternent L, Rennie K, Clark E, Waugh N, Steel AJ, Dooley J, Drinnan M, Hamilton D, Lloyd K, Oluboyede Y, Wilson C, Gardiner Q, Kara N, Khwaja S, Leong SC, Maini S, Morrison J, Nix P, Wilson JA, Teare MD. Effectiveness of septoplasty compared to medical management in adults with obstruction associated with a deviated nasal septum: the NAIROS RCT. Health Technol Assess. 2024 Mar;28(10):1-213. doi: 10.3310/MVFR4028. PMID: 38477237; PMCID: PMC11017631. – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11017631/
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1748681524000974
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