I want my nose fixed. Can it be done without breaking bones?

Q. I want to have my nose done, but do not want to have my nose broken. Is there a way to do my nose without breaking the bones?

A. Over the years, there have been few exceptions when I don’t break the nasal bones. These exceptions include very thin noses or previously operated noses.

If you come to me and trust what I am going to do, telling me not to break your nose is like having me operate with handcuffs. You want to make sure that your surgeon has every available tool to make your surgery the best. If a patient is very adamant about this issue, I tell them to seek another doctor.

The great majority of patients come to have their noses done because they do not like the bump on their nose. The bump on the nose is made of cartilage and bone, which comes to a pyramidal shape.

When the bump is reduced, you now have two separate bones and the septum in the middle.

This makes the nose look wider, because on the front view your bones are no longer coming to an apex where the bump forms. Many years ago, I had a patient who came in and told me that his friend’s father was going to do his nose without breaking the bone.

I told him that it would be impossible for me to do that and that he should make an appointment for a revision surgery approximate one year from the time he had his surgery. He came back and had his nose redone because his nose looked so much wider after his previous surgery.

Breaking the nasal bones, or osteotomy , is a common part of the rhinoplasty procedure. While it sounds like a terrible thing, the osteotomy generally does not hurt and most of my patients will take one or two Tylenol the first night for pain. Of course, other pain medicines are provided but generally not used.

By breaking the bones, the nose surgery is complete and it makes the whole package look better. Dr. Carlos Wolf is a partner in Miami Plastic Surgery and is board certified. Email questions to him at Cwolf@miamiplasticsurgery.com