Question: How common is it for the nasal tip to droop years after having rhinoplasty? What can be done to prevent this and, if it happens, how is it corrected?
Answer: Drooping of the nasal tip is a normal component of the aging process and happens to people to varying degrees depending on multiple factors. Having a rhinoplasty does not necessarily put one at higher risk of nasal tip ptosis (drooping). If a rhinoplasty is too aggressive, it is possible that there could be loss of nasal support and subsequent drooping, but this would be very rare for an experienced plastic surgeon. Nasal tip drooping can be minimized by conservative cartilage reshaping and techniques such as cartilage grafting to provide support to the nose where it is needed. These same techniques can be used to correct a ptotic nasal tip as well. In cases of severe tip drooping, more extensive procedures may be required, including reconstruction using cartilage from other areas of the body (ear or rib) or commercially-available cartilage substitutes.