Will A Rhinoplasty Give Me More Upper Tooth Show?

Q:  Dr. Eppley, I have been bothered by the appearance of my nose for a long time. The problem is that the  tip is big, long, and droopy. Because the tip hangs down, it also affects my smile. It makes my smile look unnatural as the upper front teeth are barely visible. I have spent a lot of money on orthodontic work and I want them to show. Would a rhinoplasty improve this problem?

A:  I think you have to separate the nose problem from the lack of upper tooth show. While the nose and lip are next to each other, they do not often directly cause a cosmetic problem for the other. A long downturned nasal tip does not cause the upper lip to be pushed downward. Therefore, while a rhinoplasty will make a very visible difference in the shape of the nose and how the overall face looks, it will not have the effect of improving upper tooth show. Pulling the tip of the nose up will not create a shorter upper lip or at least not significantly. You will need to consider some type of upper lip shortening to create that effect, such as a subnasal lip lift.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana