Triangle Nostrils After Rhinoplasty: Causes, Risks & Best Treatments

When the nose is too wide, too short, or has a deviated septum that causes breathing issues, rhinoplasty is used to fix those. It gives you a deformity-free nose that is more defined and complements your facial harmony. However, some patients experience triangular nostrils after rhinoplasty. They worry that their nose will always look this way. So, is it normal?

The mild triangular shape, while the swelling goes away, is normal. However, if it persists longer than the recovery time, it’s a concern. Don’t worry, there are treatments available for it, such as cartilage autografts, revision rhinoplasty, and dermal fillers.

What Are Triangle Nostrils?

The triangle nostrils, also known as the soft tissue triangle deformity, is when your nostrils look like a soft triangle, especially when viewed from the bottom. It looks unnatural and overly surgical when it’s severe.

It disrupts facial harmony and makes the surgery obvious. The triangular shape is more noticeable on broader nasal structures, common in people of African, Caucasian, and some American descent.

What Are The Causes Of Triangle Nostrils After Rhinoplasty

Triangular nostrils can be caused by various factors in the surgery, such as:

Swelling

The early swelling is usually significant, and hence, it changes the shape of the nose and also the nostrils. It can also distort the soft tissue of the nostrils, turning the nostrils angular and pinched. 

Many patients think that the swelling is permanent, and so are their triangle nostrils. But that’s not the reality. The swelling settles within a few weeks or months, correcting the shape of the nose with every passing day.

Overdone Nasal Tip

If the rhinoplasty was done to lift up or refine the nose tip, then sometimes, due to excessive rotation of it, it can also cause the triangular nose shape. 

When the nasal tip is pushed too far up or down, it can make the nostrils visible and look too wide. This sometimes also makes them look triangular.

Healing Process

Each person uniquely recovers from surgery. The nostrils may appear triangular as a result of the scar tissue tightening and pulling on the skin during the healing process. That’s even when the surgery was done well.

Cartilage Shifting

The surgeons use the cartilage removed from your body to reshape your nose. That’s like a separate part inserted into your nose to fill up the bumps or reshape it. 

During healing, or if they’re improperly placed, they can move from the nose, changing the shape of the nostrils.

Pre-existing Asymmetry

If your nose is already asymmetrical, rhinoplasty may not fully correct it. It can happen due to complications or mistakes. Then, post-surgery, your nostrils can look more triangular than usual due to swelling. You might also feel one nostril to be bigger or more triangular than the other one.

Soft Tissue Triangle Deformities

Soft tissue is basically the space between the nostrils. When excessive tissue is removed from there, it can make the nostrils look sharper and triangular, usually when looked at from below.

Alar Rim Retraction

Too much tissue removal can also cause the rim, which is the edge of the nostril, to get pulled too far. That makes the nostrils look lifted and also triangular-shaped.

Narrowed Nasal Tip

If the nasal tip has been made too narrow by manipulating the tissue, it can squeeze the nostrils inward. They look pinched and sometimes angular.

When Should You Be Worried?

Experiencing triangle nostrils after rhinoplasty is normal, especially when it’s mild. However, if it’s too much and creates these issues, then it’s a concern:

• Breathing through your nose feels blocked.
• One nostril looks different and doesn’t improve.
• The shape of your nose keeps getting more uneven.
• You notice signs of infection, like swelling or discharge.
• Scar tissue feels hard or overly tight inside the nose.

How To Fix Triangle Nostrils After a Nose Job? Best Treatments

Luckily, both surgical and non-surgical treatments are available for triangular nostrils after rhinoplasty. Let’s discuss both:

Cartilage Autografts

When the over-removal of the tissues causes the nose to get misshapen, the cartilage autograft procedure is used to fix it. 

In this procedure, cartilage is taken from your body, usually from the ear or the rib. Then, that’s placed on your nose to rebuild and support the weak areas, making the nostrils soft and rounded again. It’s a permanent treatment that offers long-lasting results.

Revision Rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty is a specialized surgical procedure that fixes the shape problems of your nose caused by the previous rhinoplasty. 

It carefully adjusts the cartilage, soft tissues, and improves the shape by fixing its deformities. This procedure is more suitable for patients with severe triangular nostrils.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are the best treatment for triangular nostrils for patients who don’t want to undergo invasive procedures. In this non-surgical procedure, the dermal fillers are injected into your nose, smoothing the nostril edges, softening the nostril shape, and correcting the minor asymmetries. 

This procedure offers minimal downtime and also quick results. However, the results are temporary and can fade over 6 to 12 months.

How To Prevent Triangle Nostrils After Rhinoplasty?

You can prevent the triangle nostrils after the rhinoplasty by following these steps:

• Choose an experienced board-certified surgeon who has done several rhinoplasty surgeries before. 
• Make sure that not too much cartilage is removed during the surgery. You can ask the surgeon to be extra careful about it.
• Add extra support near the nostrils if they’re at risk of pulling up.
• Take healing seriously and follow care tips to avoid scarring.

Asli Tarcan Clinic-We Help You Get A Perfect Nose

Triangle nostrils after rhinoplasty are completely normal and usually go away when the swelling settles. However, if you have severe triangle-shaped nostrils after the rhinoplasty, then it can happen due to excessive swelling, over-rotated nasal tip, scar tissue, cartilage shifting, alar rim retraction, or over-removal of tissue. 

You have three best treatments, such as cartilage autografts, revision rhinoplasty, and dermal fillers. You can take any of these depending on the severity of your nose shape after the surgery.

For affordable revision rhinoplasty and cartilage autografts to fix your triangular nostrils, you can contact Asli Tarcan Clinic. 

We’re a Turkey-based rhinoplasty clinic with years of experience and board-certified surgeons who offer you natural-looking results without any complications. Contact us today!

How to correct triangle nostrils?

To correct the triangular nostrils, you can take cartilage autografts, undergo revision rhinoplasty, or use dermal fillers, which are non-surgical options.

How do you fix uneven nostrils after rhinoplasty?

If your nostrils look uneven after surgery, a revision rhinoplasty can help. For minor issues, fillers might be enough to smooth things out temporarily.

Why do my nostrils look weird after rhinoplasty?

It’s probably just swelling, which is totally normal early on. As your nose heals, things usually settle into a more natural shape.