If an arrow nose resulted after lifted-nose surgery — revision criteria dividing columella position·dorsum·tip

2025. 1. 13.

If lowering the columella to correct a lifted nose produced an arrow nose, what revision is possible — organized: how columella position, a protruding dorsum point, and a blunt tip are each viewed, plus why waiting at least 6 months matters.

Key points

When correcting a lifted nose, the columella (nasal pillar) is lowered to bring the tip down — if that degree was excessive, a revision direction of slightly raising the columella can be considered.
A part of the dorsum that looks protruding and a tip that looks blunt are each viewed by dividing them into items to be trimmed and reduced.
If it's been about a month since surgery, the nose is still settling — it's better to wait until the tissue stabilizes and judge revision at least 6 months later.

"The lifted nose bothered me so I had it lowered — but now the tip has come down too far and looks like an arrow nose."

Some people had surgery over a lifted-looking tip concern, yet the result appears to have swung the opposite direction. When that's compounded by a dorsum looking higher and bigger or a tip looking blunt, it's hard to judge where to start fixing.

This article organizes what to divide and view in such a situation, and how to set the revision timing.

Why does correcting a lifted nose end up looking like an arrow nose?

For a lifted nose, the columella area is made to come down to lower the tip. In the process of adjusting the tip's upward-pointing direction downward, the nasal pillar's position changes together.

If that adjustment was excessive, the opposite can result — a state where the tip appears to point downward, an impression close to an arrow nose. It can be seen as a case where deliberately lowering the columella to fix a lifted nose turned out excessive in the end.

In such cases, revision is toward resetting the direction. Just slightly raising the columella can adjust it closer to the desired look.

How are the dorsum and tip each viewed?

Multiple spots can be bothersome in one surgery's result. In that case, rather than bundling them into one cause, they're divided into items and viewed.

Bothersome part	How it's approached
The columella came down too far and looks like an arrow nose	Slightly raise the columella in revision
The middle of the dorsum looks protruding	Trim and reduce the silicone in that part
The tip looks blunt	Trim the tip

The surgery can proceed by opening the columella area and correcting the parts you want improved one by one. What is checked at the tip and how it's trimmed can also be seen in the nasal-tip procedure guide.

If the situation isn't one where you want the nose higher than now, revision is sometimes possible with only the material currently inside the nose. Revision doesn't necessarily mean adding new material.

When is revision best done?

If it's been about a month since surgery, the nose is still settling. Rather than concluding from this stage's appearance and moving straight to revision, it's better to wait until the nose fully settles and the tissue stabilizes.

Why wait — early on, swelling and tissue changes remain, so the currently visible look may not be the final state.
The general criterion — it's viewed as better to revise after at least 6 months have passed.
What to do meanwhile — discussing in detail while viewing the current state together with the medical staff of the clinic that operated is most advisable.

Summary — divide and view, and keep the timing

If correcting a lifted nose ended up looking like an arrow nose, how far the columella came down is the first part to check. Dividing and viewing the point on the dorsum that looks protruding and the tip that looks blunt separately makes it easier to organize what and how far to fix in revision. Still, one month after surgery isn't yet a point for judgment — so deciding after allowing time for the tissue to stabilize is better.

If you'd like to organize what should be checked in the current state, a 1:1 video-call consultation is available, and actual correction cases can be seen in before-and-after photos.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.

Is arrow-nose revision a method of cutting the columella?

If the columella lowered for lifted-nose correction was excessive, revision can adjust it in the direction of slightly raising that columella. The surgery itself proceeds by opening the columella area and correcting the bothersome parts one by one.

The dorsum looks high and big — does it need shaving?

If the middle of the dorsum looks protruding, a method of trimming and reducing the silicone in that part can be considered. Rather than approaching it as remaking the whole nose, confirming which point looks protruding comes first.

It's been a month since surgery — can I get revision right now?

It's not recommended. Judging after waiting until the nose settles and the tissue stabilizes is better — generally after at least 6 months. Before that, having the current state checked at the clinic that operated comes first.

Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.

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