Ptotic (droopy) Nasal Tip Information

A droopy nasal tip is a common concern for rhinoplasty patients. A droopy, or ptotic, tip imparts a “long nose” appearance, and can make a face seem snarled in some cases.  In older patients, it can be a giveaway to age. This is because the tip loses support with age and tends to drop  downward as we get older. The droopy tip is often more apparent when a patient smiles.

For female patients, a droopy tip can make a nose seem masculin.

In most cases the diagnosis of a droopy tip is straightforward, but the surgeon must have certain guidelines to judge the degree of droopiness, or tip ptosis that exists. The next step is to decide how much to correct the condition. A surgeon corrects tip ptosis by rotating the tip upward. In the below diagram, note the angle made be two lines along the bottom of the nose and along the upper lip. This is called the “nasolabial angle” or “nose-lip angle.”

In men, the nasolabial angle should be about 90 degrees. In women, an angle of 95 to 115 degrees is generally feminine and attractive. Note the change in nasolabial angle between the before and after pictures. The rotation of the tip upward is apparent, although less so, on the frontal view. The nose is shorter, showing more of the upper lip.

The skilled rhinoplasty surgeon has multiple techniques available to rotate a droopy tip. Each nose is different, and the correct approach must be chosen based on size and shape of the tip cartilages, shape of the nasal septum in the tip region, and thickness of the nasal tip skin.