Unhappy with Your Profile? We Offer a Rhinoplasty Alternative

If you are unhappy with your profile, it’s easy to blame the nose. The nose is one of the most prominent features of  your face, and if you don’t like the look of your profile, the chances are good it’s at least in part because you feel your nose is sticking out too far. This is one of the most common reasons why people seek a rhinoplasty (nose job).

But often the nose is being targeted unfairly. While the nose might be sticking out, it might not be too large. Instead, the problem could be a weak or receding chin. The problem could be similar for people who feel that their nose is too wide for their face. The problem might not be the nose at all, but sunken cheeks and a narrow jaw.

If this is the case for you, a rhinoplasty isn’t the solution for you. Instead, full-face orthodontics can improve your profile and help your nose fit your face. 

Balance Is the Key to Beauty

When it comes to beauty, there are few absolutes. More often, what makes beauty is a balance among features. A beautiful nose isn’t necessarily small, it’s in balance with the other features of the face. When a nose looks too large, it’s only because it’s large in comparison to other features. Sometimes, the right solution is to make the nose smaller with a rhinoplasty. But other times, you should opt to reshape other features to achieve beauty.

How Full-Face Orthodontics Transforms Your Face

The lower third of your face depends on your teeth and jaw for shape and support. When the jaw develops properly, it will give you full cheeks and a strong jaw. Unfortunately, there are many factors that contribute to poor development of the teeth and jaws.

When the upper jaw, called the maxilla, which is part of the skull, doesn’t fully develop, you will have a narrow upper arch of teeth. These teeth don’t fully support the cheeks, causing them to sink inward.

When the lower jaw, called the mandible, doesn’t fully develop, it is often not only narrow, but also retruded–moved toward the back of the head. This gives you a receding or weak chin. It can also contribute to the appearance of excess fat and skin in the neck area.

Full-face orthodontics stimulates your body’s natural development to help it achieve the shape it is supposed to. It can broaden the arch and advance the jaw.

This can give you a more attractive profile, and it can help balance the jaw and the nose. You can achieve the goals of a rhinoplasty without surgery. 

Why Choose Full-Face Orthodontics over a Rhinoplasty

So if you are unhappy with your profile, how do you decide whether you should get full-face orthodontics or a rhinoplasty?

Full-face orthodontics has many advantages. Choose it if you:

• Have a receding chin or sunken cheeks
• Experience functional problems like TMJ or sleep apnea
• Want to avoid surgery

First, it’s important to make sure you choose a solution that will give you the results you want. Don’t get a rhinoplasty if the true problem isn’t your nose, but your chin or cheeks. When considering your options, make sure you consult a cosmetic dentist as well as a plastic surgeon.

The teeth and jaw develop along with your airway. If your jaw is narrow, it is more likely that you will experience breathing problems like sleep apnea. Sometimes, rhinoplasty is proposed as a solution for sleep apnea, but it’s not very effective.

In addition, a jaw that isn’t fully formed might not function properly, which can cause jaw pain, neck pain, and headaches. These symptoms indicate you might have temporomandibular joint disorders (called TMJ or TMD).

Full-face orthodontics is also a great choice because it doesn’t involve surgery. Surgery comes with serious risks of dangerous complications. 

An Alternative to Rhinoplasty in Woburn, MA

If you are looking for a way to improve your profile, there are alternatives to rhinoplasty. To learn whether full-face orthodontics is right for you, please call (781) 396-8558 today for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist at Divine Smiles.

By Ryan M. Clancy, DMD, MAGD, LVIF, FPFA, FIAPA | September 22nd, 2020 | Orthodontics