Dr. Sam Lam Plastic Surgery Forum

i really cannot comment on that. i would speak to the physician and read his heart and his mind and see what you think.
best,
sml

I understand. This is a decision for me to make based on how the consultation goes. I do want to make the right who knows the dr might say there is nothing he can do. From all the emails I have read from you I have come to respect your opinion a great deal. You mentioned in a previous email that the technique that was used made a difference in the possibility of some kind of revision if you could give me your professional opinion on mine it will mean a great deal. I can use all input possible if you feel that is something you can not do I understand. In your previous email you mention that if the cut was made on the sill of the nose where the nose touches the face there could be a possible improvement (I understand very clearly that the success rate was not favorably high) but if the outside of the nostril was cut then there was probably no way to reverse. What do you mean by outside of the nostril? The way mine was done is a small wedge was taken out where the nostril meets the face Am I right to conclude that that is what you meant by outside of the nose?

yes, that sounds like the outside of the nose. at this point, it is much better for you to do a formal consultation with a physician in person. i do not think surgically i will be able to help you. hopefully, i can support you emotionally to the best of my ability.
best,
sml

Thank you for your honest reply. I will be needing all your support emotionally. Its strange but instead of being devastated be the definite impossibility of your help with any surgical procedure I found myself smiling by the honesty and heartfelt kindness in your reply.

Hello Dr. Lam,

I wanted to post this for anyone who has been going through my same situation. As I begin to accept the fact that I cant do anything to reverse my alar reduction I was trying to find a way to make it look better. So, for anyone out there with this problem you should try shading. It may seem like a minimal and ridiculous idea but if tried it does help. What I did is use bronzer with a brush, small strokes along the whole crease of the nostril. This darkens the area adding a fake shadow which in turn makes the nostril flar appear larger, while making the tip appear slightly thinner which adds even a bit more size to the appearance of the nostril. Just a little help goes a long way. I know it will never be the same as before maybe it can help a bit.

Diana

diana,
actually, that was a beautiful post, and a first step toward moving forward.
best,
sml

btw, i am very focused on people's energies, and i can sense an energy shift in your last post. that is what i was referring to.

I understood what you ment. Thank you.

Hello Dr. Lam,

I have a question that does not relate to the alar. The doctor that did my nose really did a number on me. When he remmoved the hump of the bridge, he left it uneven. Higher on one side than the other. I really do not want to get a revision. I do not want another surgery. What is your opinion on using a filler to bring up the lower side? Is it safe?

in my opinion that is safe but only if you are not getting a revision procedure. as a surgeon, i would not want to have a temporary or permanent product to deal with if i am working on the nose surgically.
best,
sml

Thank you Dr.

I do not plan on having any additional surgery I would be to afraid. How long after the surgery do I have to wait for it to be safe to use the filler I would go with the temporary and probably just do maintenance. I read that permanent fillers can sometimes grow scar tissue with time plus what if its overdone. I think Ill stick to temporary.

Thank you

probably 6 months. however, clean your heart before i work on your nose. free yourself first, then i may be able to help you.
namaste,
sml

Good Morning Dr. Lam,

I know it's been a long time and I do hope you are well. I'm reaching my 6 month period after my surgery and almost time to do the filler to even out the bridge. As you know my main problem was the alar base reduction. I know that grafting to widen the nostril is just not feasible. I went on a consultation in which the doctor brought up a different procedure on which I would like your professional opinion. When my nostrils where cut and brought in, it caused a hidden columella which I didn't have before. This makes my nose look droopy and sad. He mentioned that the alar rim can be raised and is accomplished through direct excision to raise the rim and to make the nostril longer or wider (not wider in base width but I guess higher). This would correct the hidden columella and take away from the droopy look. I saw a few before and after pictures and although the nose itself wasn't wider at the base, the raised nostril opening at the ends made a big difference and the droopy look was gone. I was hoping to get your opinion on this procedure, again if it is something that is unsafe or carries more cons than it does pros, I would much rather not do it. Well, again I hope you are well and all around you is at its best. Thank you and I hope to hear from you soon, as always your advise means a great deal to me.

D

hi,
i wish i could state that i had experience with this kind of procedure. as you know, in about 90% of ethnic noses, i am opposed to alar base reductions. in the few that i do, i do it conservatively. the one thing that i do not like to do on this forum is speak on a subject on which i am unfamiliar. in this case, i will have to say that i don't have good words of wisdom because i simply lack the right information. sorry about that.
best,
sml