How to fix crooked nose

There are many possible reasons someone might have a crooked nose. A crooked nose would refer to any nose that doesn’t follow a straight, narrow line on the middle of your face.

Table of Contents Show

Causes of Crooked Noses
Treatment for Crooked Noses
Dr Samuel Ho’s Approach

In general, crooked noses are a cosmetic concern. However, there are situations where a crooked nose can affect your breathing.

Causes of Crooked Noses

In general, there are 2 main causes of crooked noses.

Bone, cartilage or tissue issuesOur noses are made out of bone, cartilage and tissue. These work together in a complex system in order to form a functional nose. This might get affected by certain birth defects, physical injuries, nasal infections or other surgeries like rhinoplasties.
Deviated septumYour septum is a wall within your nose that separates the right and left nasal chambers. Patients with a deviated septum have a septum that slants either to the right or left, causing a blockage.
A deviated septum can be a tricky nasal condition to live with as they sometimes affect breathing, sleep and can cause nosebleeds.

Only a doctor is qualified to properly diagnose the reason for a patient’s crooked nose.

Treatment for Crooked Noses

Treatments for crooked noses generally fall into 2 categories, surgical and non-surgical.

Surgical
Surgical treatments for crooked noses include rhinoplasties, where the shape of the nose is surgically altered. For patients with a deviated septum, sometimes a doctor will recommend a septoplasty, where the wall in the middle of your nose is straightened and put back into place.

Non-surgicalFor more cosmetic nose problems where the airways don’t need correction, there are options such as nose fillers or nose threading. These treatments can camouflage the crooked nature of the nose by filling in areas of the nose.

Dr Samuel Ho’s Approach

Firstly, the underlying cause for the crooked nose must be determined – is it the septum or nasal bones that are crooked? Occasionally, it may be the soft tissue (skin) that results in deviation, such as when scarring is present. In general, this crookedness can be dealt with in 2 different ways - one can correct the cause of the crookedness or one can camouflage it.

The difference between the two methods is the recovery involved. Camouflage techniques typically result in shorter downtime, but may not be feasible if there is a functional problem that has to be corrected, such as nasal obstruction. Correcting the underlying cause, such as nasal bone osteotomies (breaking the nasal bones) or septoplasties (to correct a crooked middle cartilage piece) typically have a longer recovery period and might have a slightly higher complication rate but are generally needed to correct a functional problem.

The more appropriate method is only chosen after a careful discussion between Dr Samuel Ho and the patient as every patient’s requirement and expectations are different.

Get 1 highlighter, 1 bronzer, and 1 dark shade with gray undertones. Starting at your inner eyebrows and going down to the tip, draw 2 straight lines on each side of your nose with the gray shade. Make the lines perfectly straight. Then, use the bronzer to draw 2 straight lines right below the first ones you made (that way, when you blend the makeup, the darker colors will fade out and you won't have any harsh lines). Finally, make a super straight line down the center of your bridge with highlighter and use a big, fluffy brush to blend all of the lines together seamlessly.[1]
- Use the same formula—liquid, cream, or powder—for all 3 contour shades.
- If you're using powder contour, apply it with a flat, angled brush. For cream or liquid contour, use your fingers, a sponge. For creamy stick formulas, you can apply it directly from the tube.
- The gray shade creates shadows to disguise the bent part of your nose. The bronzer softens those shadow lines so the contour looks more natural. The highlight creates the illusion of a super straight bridge.

Filler injections require no down time and results last 6-12 months. Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is strategically injected into your nose to create volume in hollow areas and refine the overall shape of the bridge and tip. The results are instant, although you may have mild swelling for 1-2 days. Don't let the word "acid" scare you—HA is a naturally-occurring sugar molecule already present in connective tissue. Your body slowly absorbs the filler, but you can repeat the procedure to maintain your results. See a cosmetic dermatologist or licensed aesthetician to find out if you’re a good candidate![2]
- Nose filler is often called "liquid rhinoplasty" or "nonsurgical rhinoplasty."[3]
- FDA-approved HA fillers for the nose include Juvéderm and Restylane.[4]
- If you don't like the results, your doctor can dissolve the HA filler.
- Filler is charged by the syringe. Prices vary but $600 to $900 per syringe is a common price range. You'll probably need at least 2 syringes.[5]
- HA is the preferred filler for nose reshaping. You've probably heard of Botox, but it's not filler. Botox injections paralyze muscles to smooth out wrinkles.

These fillers are safe and results can last up to 12 months. Calcium hydroxylapatite (CaHA) dermal injections are made of naturally-occurring material and can be used to correct nose asymmetry. CaHA filler lasts a little longer than HA filler and may stimulate your natural collagen production. However, using CaHA filler for nose reshaping is "off-label" (meaning it's not intended for nose reshaping). Cosmetic dermatologists and licensed aestheticians tend to prefer HA fillers for the nose, but it wouldn't hurt to ask about CaHA filler. After examining you, your doctor might decide that CaHA filler is the best choice to correct your nose.[6]
- The only FDA-approved CaHA filler on the market is Radiesse.
- Unlike HA fillers, CaHA fillers aren't reversible. Unfortunately, if you don't like the results, you'll have to wait it out.
- CaHA fillers are usually used on rhinoplasty patients after their surgery to fix any lingering irregularities.[7]

Talk to a licensed cosmetic surgeon to see if you’re a candidate. Rhinoplasty requires several weeks of down time and, like any surgery, carries some risks. The surgery is complex and highly individualized, so make an appointment with a licensed and experienced cosmetic surgeon to go over your options and come up with a surgical plan that’s right for you.[8]
- There are 2 types of rhinoplasty: open and closed. Open rhinoplasty is more invasive and used to make fairly major adjustments. Closed rhinoplasty is less involved and works best for minor adjustments. Your surgeon will tell you what's best for your situation.
- Your doctor may inform you of limitations in the procedure or other elements that may play a role in the appearance of your nose.[9]
- Rhinoplasty doesn’t require an overnight stay, so you’ll get to go home after being monitored for a few hours.[10]
- The average cost for this surgery is $5,500, but it depends on the surgeon and the complexity of the surgery.[11] Most insurances don’t cover cosmetic procedures, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask!

Septoplasty is a surgery to permanently straighten a deviated septum. Your septum is the wall of bone and cartilage between your 2 nostrils. If your septum tilts more toward 1 nostril than the other, you may have a deviated or "crooked" septum. Deviated septums usually make it harder to breathe and can cause snoring. During the procedure, a licensed surgeon cuts and removes parts of the septum and reinserts them in the proper place.[12]
- You can have a septoplasty by itself or in conjunction with a rhinoplasty.
- Some health insurances may cover this particular surgery, so be sure to call your provider and ask about your options.
- The downtime after septoplasty is usually 3-4 weeks.[13]

Facial exercises may help some issues, but not a crooked nose. You may have heard of facial exercises or "face yoga" and wondered if the exercises were worth a try to fix your crooked nose. Unfortunately, facial exercises can't help since your nose is mostly made of cartilage and bone. [14]

These devices aren't well-tested and may cause permanent damage. You've probably seen nose shaper devices online that claim to be able to fix a crooked nose. These devices usually attach to your nose in some way and attempt to force it into alignment, similar to the way splints are used for broken bones. These devices may seem tempting, but doctors don't recommend them. Nose shapers aren't well-tested or science-backed, and there's evidence that they can injure, bruise, or even permanently damage your nose.[15]

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Question

Can I keep taking my medications before a surgery?

Marc Kayem, MD
Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Marc Kayem is a board certified Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California. He practices and specializes in cosmetic services and sleep-related disorders. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa, is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada.

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It depends on the surgery and the medications, so talk to your doctor and the surgeon to see what you can take in the weeks leading up to the surgery. For most surgeries, you want to stop blood thinners, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, any homeopathic medication at least 2 weeks before the surgery. Tylenol is typically the only thing you can take within 2 weeks of a surgery, but it depends on the procedure and your personal situation.
Question

I had a septorhinoplasty over a year ago and I'm not satisfied with the rhinoplasty results. I'd like to do a revision. Is this safe?

Chris M. Matsko, MD
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Chris M. Matsko is a retired physician based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With over 25 years of medical research experience, Dr. Matsko was awarded the Pittsburgh Cornell University Leadership Award for Excellence. He holds a BS in Nutritional Science from Cornell University and an MD from the Temple University School of Medicine in 2007. Dr. Matsko earned a Research Writing Certification from the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA) in 2016 and a Medical Writing & Editing Certification from the University of Chicago in 2017.

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This article was co-authored by Marc Kayem, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. Dr. Marc Kayem is a board certified Otolaryngologist and Facial Plastic Surgeon based in Beverly Hills, California. He practices and specializes in cosmetic services and sleep-related disorders. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from the University of Ottawa, is board certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. This article has been viewed 173,765 times.

Co-authors: 15

Updated: August 20, 2021

Categories: Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery | Nose Health