When the sides of your nose sit in better balance with your face, you may find it easier to feel at ease in the mirror and in photos.
The alar base is the curved flesh on either side of your nostrils. When this area is wide or flared, some people feel their nose takes up more of the face than they would like. This procedure suits some people, though not everyone.
Everything starts with a consultation. Your surgeon will listen as you describe what you would like to change, look closely at the structure of your nose and the proportions of your face, and then talk through whether nostril narrowing is a good fit. This is also your chance to be clear about your hopes and to ask anything that is on your mind.
The procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthesia, meaning only the area around your nose is numbed while you stay awake, sometimes combined with light sedation to help you relax. The specific type of anaesthesia depends on your situation and your surgeon's judgement.
Your surgeon removes a small amount of tissue at the base of the nostril to reduce the width, then closes the area carefully with stitches. The incision usually sits in the natural crease around the base of the nostril, where the scar tends to settle and become less noticeable over time. The exact technique is chosen based on the structure of your nose and the amount of change you are looking for.
The whole procedure usually takes somewhere between 30 and 60 minutes. Afterwards you will be shown how to care for the stitches at home, and a follow-up visit will be arranged.
Alar base reduction adjusts the width at the base on either side of the nose. Understanding what this procedure will not do helps you hold the right expectations.
Recovery after nostril narrowing tends to be gentler than recovery from larger nose surgery, but the tissue still needs time to heal and the swelling needs time to settle. The stages below are rough estimates; every body heals at its own pace.
Every procedure carries risk, and nostril narrowing is no exception. Your surgeon will talk you through these openly before you decide. This is shared so you can weigh things up, not to frighten you.
At The Gioi Dep, our surgeons begin by listening and assessing the proportions of your face carefully, rather than applying a single template to everyone. We believe a small change in the right place often keeps a more natural look than trying to do too much.
The incision is placed in the natural crease around the base of the nostril to help the scar settle and become less noticeable, and you are given clear guidance on wound care and follow-up visits. If, during the consultation, our surgeons notice that your concern lies more with the overall shape of your nose than the width of the nostrils, they will tell you honestly and talk through the options that suit you better.
During the procedure the area around your nose is numbed, so you usually do not feel pain. Afterwards you may notice tightness and mild discomfort for a few days, and this is usually managed well with pain relief taken as your surgeon directs.
The incision usually sits in the natural crease around the base of the nostril, where the scar tends to settle and become less noticeable. The scar usually fades over several months, but it does not disappear completely, and how visible it stays varies from person to person.
Many people return to desk work within about 5 to 7 days, once the most noticeable swelling and bruising have eased. If your work is more physically demanding, you may need a little more time.
The aim is a change that sits in keeping with your face, not a completely different nose. When the amount of adjustment is measured and suited to your proportions, the result usually keeps a natural look.
There is no fixed age limit. What matters more is your general health and how well you heal. Your surgeon will assess this during the consultation.
The change to the structure is usually stable, but your face and tissues still keep shifting naturally with age. So it would not be honest to say the result is fixed and unchanging.
No. Alar base reduction adjusts the outer shape and does not address breathing problems or a deviated septum. If you find it hard to breathe through your nose, tell your surgeon so it can be assessed separately.
Talk to your surgeon early. Some cases need time for the swelling to fully settle before they can be judged, and others may need a further revision. The initial consultation is a good time to talk this through.
The procedure is usually carried out under local anaesthesia, sometimes with light sedation to help you relax. The specific type of anaesthesia depends on your situation and your surgeon's judgement.
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.