Nose Tip & Cartilage Information

NASAL TIP

The shape of the tip of the nose has a tremendous influence on the overall appearance of the nose. A tip that is too wide, or too pointy, can diminish the overall beauty of the face.

The nasal tip is composed entirely of cartilage. The cartilage which creates the tip of the nose is called the lower lateral cartilage (LLC). There are two lower lateral cartilages. One forms the right side of the nasal tip. The other one forms the left side of the nasal tip.

The shape of each of these LLC, and their relation to each other, is what determines the shape of the tip of the nose. There is an endless amount of variation of these cartilages which explains why there is such a variety of nasal tip shapes.

The LLC can differ in their width, length, thickness, shape and in their curvature. The right sided LLC may even be different from the left sided LLC creating asymmetries and even more disparities in the appearance. Furthermore, the way the two cartilages attach to each other creates other differences. In general, the closer the LLC come together, the more defined the tip is. The further they are from each other, the wider the tip will be.

The ideal nasal tip shape should be triangular when viewed from below. The actual tip of the nose should be approximately 1/3 of the width of the nostrils. There should be a gentle transition from the tip of the nose to the nostrils, without any sharp creases or edges.

Typically, patients who can benefit from nasal tip refinement have large lower lateral cartilages. The two cartilages may also be far apart from each other, creating a wide and poorly defined tip. Patients with these types of cartilages may have bulbous or boxy tips.