When researching medical conditions, you’ll often find many complicated and confusing terms. But a crooked nose is exactly what it sounds like — it’s a nose that is either visibly off-center or obviously asymmetrical. Sometimes crooked noses literally lean toward one side of the face. Your nose may be crooked due to issues with nasal bones, cartilage, or your septum (the wall separating your nostrils). Sometimes the issue is purely cosmetic, but a crooked nose can cause breathing problems.
Sometimes noses are just crooked, often because of genetics. Frequently, however, noses become crooked due to some type of trauma or injury sustained in sports or during an accident. Broken noses that go untreated or heal incorrectly often result in a crooked appearance.
The problem can also be inside the nose. A misaligned or deviated septum can cause the nose to look crooked even though the problem is internal. Deviated septums often create breathing problems, making them more than just a cosmetic issue. And although rare, it’s possible for your nose to be crooked because of a previous nasal surgery.
A crooked nose is usually pretty easy to spot. If the issue is purely cosmetic, you may notice:
If you have a deviated septum, you could notice some or all of the above issues along with trouble breathing through one or both nostrils. A deviated septum can also cause frequent sinus infections or issues.
Unfortunately, a crooked nose can’t be fixed without medical intervention. No matter what the internet tells you, exercises, massages, and various straightening devices are completely ineffective. The right makeup applied well may succeed at making the nose look straighter, but it won’t make it straighter. When the makeup is removed, so is the illusion.
We understand the temptation to look for natural and alternative ways to fix a crooked nose, and we wish these methods worked. Not everyone likes the idea of surgery or filler injections, and we get it. Unfortunately, these are the only effective fixes.
If your nose is crooked, you do have options. Natural solutions don’t work, but there are three surgeries to choose from and one nonsurgical solution. Let’s dive right into the choices.
If your nose is crooked but you don’t have any breathing issues, you can opt for a rhinoplasty. Commonly called a nose job, this surgery reshapes the bones and cartilage of your nose, straightening it and improving symmetry. This is a permanent solution, and your nose should remain in its new shape unless it suffers a future trauma. This surgery won’t change or improve your breathing, but it will give you a much straighter nose.
If you have trouble breathing but don’t feel your nose is noticeably crooked, you can choose to have a septoplasty. This procedure repairs a deviated septum and improves airflow, making it much easier to breathe. It isn’t designed to change the outward appearance of your nose and is unlikely to do so unless the deviation was severe enough to pull your nose crooked.
Because our surgeries are primarily cosmetic in nature, Mia Aesthetics does not work with insurance companies. Insurance does sometimes cover septoplasty, however. We do offer the procedure, but working out the details of who pays what and how is between you and your insurance company.
If your nose looks crooked and you have a deviated septum, you can combine your rhinoplasty and septoplasty into a single procedure. Doing so fixes cosmetic and functional breathing issues at the same time. This is a popular approach and the one that makes the most sense if you have both issues.
Only surgery can change the structure of your nose, but we can use dermal fillers to make your nose look straighter. Fillers can only disguise minor asymmetry and do nothing to improve your breathing. They are also temporary, requiring upkeep every 12 to 18 months in order to keep your nose looking straight. Although limited in scope, dermal fillers can be a good option for those who wish to avoid surgery, aren’t sure they want to commit to a permanent procedure, or who aren’t good candidates for general anesthesia.
Surgery is always necessary to correct a deviated septum. A crooked nose that isn’t accompanied by breathing problems, however, does not have to be fixed for any medical reason. You are generally a good candidate for surgery if you:
If you choose to do so, correcting a crooked nose provides several benefits. After surgery, patients report enjoying:
Rhinoplasty and septoplasty are both considered safe, routine operations when performed by experienced surgeons like ours. Surgery is never completely risk-free, but the risks associated with nasal surgery are minimal. You will, however, experience swelling, bruising, and possibly black eyes after surgery. These are normal parts of the recovery process. The best way to ensure that your surgery has a good outcome is to choose a skilled plastic surgeon and follow their pre- and post-op instructions closely.
We want you to be happy with your surgery, and that requires realistic expectations. Surgeons can straighten your nose, but they can’t guarantee perfect symmetry. The goal of plastic surgery is always improvement, but never perfection. No one has a perfect body.
You can expect that your nose will be much straighter and more symmetrical, and breathing will be easier after a septoplasty. Expect that it will also take some time before you see your final results. It can easily take 12 months or longer for all of the residual swelling to ease and for the tissues to fully settle into their new position. You will see a marked improvement in a few weeks, but don’t judge your results as final too soon.