Upturned Nose: Causes and How Septal Extension Helps

The short answer: an upturned nose is usually caused by a short septum, weak tip support, or scar tissue after a previous surgery. Septal extension uses cartilage to lengthen and support the tip, so its length and angle can be set to fit your face. The right plan depends on why your nose turns up.

What Is an Upturned Nose?

An upturned nose has a tip that rotates upward. From the side, the angle between the nose and the upper lip, called the nasolabial angle, looks wide. From the front, more of the nostrils are visible than the person would like.

It often appears together with a short nose. The two are related but not identical: a short nose is about length, while an upturned nose is about direction.

Results vary between individuals.

Common signs

• The nostrils are clearly visible when looking straight at the face
• The tip seems to point toward the ceiling in side profile
• The nose looks short compared with the rest of the face
• Photos taken from slightly below make the nose look wider

What Causes an Upturned Nose?

The tip position depends on the septum, the tip cartilages and the soft tissue around them. When one of these is short or weak, the tip rotates upward. The table below shows the most common causes.

Cause	What it means	Typical approach
Naturally short septum	The central support of the nose is short	Septal extension to lengthen the tip
Weak tip support	The tip cartilages cannot hold the tip down	Cartilage support plus angle adjustment
Low bridge with a short nose	The whole nose looks small and upturned	Bridge and tip planned together
Contracture after surgery	Scar tissue pulls the tip upward	Revision rhinoplasty, planned carefully

Key point: Two noses can look equally upturned for different reasons. The cause decides the surgery, so a proper examination comes first.

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons notes that rhinoplasty can change the angle between the nose and the upper lip as well as the size and shape of the tip (ASPS rhinoplasty overview). That angle is the core of upturned nose correction.

How Septal Extension Corrects an Upturned Nose

At TIANA, an upturned or short nose is usually treated with septal extension and columella shaping. Cartilage is used to extend and support the tip, which lets the surgeon lower the tip and adjust its height and the nasolabial angle.

Choosing the cartilage

The cartilage can come from the septum, from elsewhere in your own body, or from a donor. Which one is used depends on how much septal cartilage you have and how much support the tip needs.

Patients who have had surgery before may have less septal cartilage left. This is one reason the plan is only finalized after examination, not from photos alone.

Setting length and angle

Nose tip lowering is not about making the nose as long as possible. The goal is a length and angle that suit your face. The surgeon plans the tip with the bridge, because a bridge that is too low or too high changes how long the nose looks.

When the bridge is also low

Many people with an upturned nose also have a low bridge. In that case, a full rhinoplasty designs the bridge and tip together so the profile line runs smoothly.

If the bridge is already a good height, the surgery can stay focused on the tip. Keeping the scope to what you actually need usually means a simpler recovery.

Results vary between individuals.

Upturned Nose After a Previous Surgery

Sometimes a nose that looked fine right after rhinoplasty slowly turns up over the following months. This can be a sign of contracture: scar tissue tightens and pulls the tip upward, and the nose may also feel firm.

Revision for contracture is more complex than a first surgery. The tissue has already been operated on, so the correction has to stay within what that tissue can safely support. TIANA handles revision rhinoplasty, including contracture cases, and plans these corrections carefully rather than aggressively.

Before a revision consultation: Have your previous surgery details ready if possible, such as when it was done and what implant or cartilage was used. It helps the surgeon understand your nose.

TIANA uses 3D-CT diagnosis to check the bone and nasal structure before surgery. Together with an in-person examination, this shows how much cartilage and support are available.

What to tell your surgeon

Be specific about what bothers you. "My nostrils show too much in photos" and "my nose looks short from the side" can lead to different plans, even on the same nose.

It also helps to bring one or two photos of noses you like, as long as you treat them as a direction rather than a target. Your surgeon can explain which parts of that look your skin, cartilage and face can realistically support.

Is Short Nose Correction Right for You?

Septal extension suits people who want a longer, more balanced tip and are looking for a natural result. It needs a realistic goal, because the skin and existing tissue limit how far the tip can be lowered.

Use this checklist before your consultation.

Question to ask yourself	Why it matters
Is the problem length, angle, or both?	Shapes the septal extension plan
Has my nose had surgery before?	Revision needs a separate assessment
Does my nose feel firm or tight?	Can point to contracture
Is my bridge low as well?	May mean a full rhinoplasty
Can I stay in Seoul for 7 to 14 nights?	Fits the typical recovery schedule

Results vary between individuals.

Recovery and Your Stay in Seoul

Most patients stay about 7 to 14 nights. Major swelling usually settles in 1 to 2 weeks, and the nose tends to look natural in about 3 to 4 weeks. A full rhinoplasty or a revision can take longer.

• Day 1: Consultation, examination and surgery
• Days 2 to 3: Swelling check and aftercare guidance
• Days 5 to 7: Stitches and splint removed
• After day 7: Fly home, or add 1 to 2 nights if needed

An anesthesiologist is on staff for surgery, and high-concentration oxygen care supports recovery from swelling. Your surgeon sees you one-to-one from consultation through aftercare. See the Seoul stay guide for planning your trip.

Summary

• An upturned nose has a tip that points upward, often with a short nose.
• Common causes are a short septum, weak tip support, or contracture after surgery.
• Septal extension uses cartilage to lengthen the tip and set the nasolabial angle.
• A nose that turned up after surgery needs a careful revision plan.
• Plan to stay about 7 to 14 nights in Seoul.

TIANA Plastic Surgery is a clinic dedicated only to rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty. Read more in our short and upturned nose guides, see what affects the cost, or check the common questions. Then send one front and one side photo on WhatsApp for a free video consultation on Google Meet.