My nose sticks out too much — can it be fixed without making me look unnatural?

This is a question we hear often, and it reveals something very important: most patients don’t just want a “smaller” nose. They want balance — a look that fits their face without drawing unwanted attention or sacrificing function.

At Kowon Plastic Surgery in Seoul, we specialize in natural-looking rhinoplasty, including complex corrections of protruding noses. Whether you're considering surgery for the first time or seeking a revision after an unsatisfying result, this guide is designed to walk you through how a protruding nose can be refined — safely, effectively, and without throwing off the rest of your features.

Let’s unpack what causes a nose to look overly prominent, why facial balance is more important than size, and how modern rhinoplasty techniques — especially implant-free methods using rib cartilage — can correct projection in a way that looks and feels natural.

What Is a Protruding Nose?

A “protruding” nose, medically known as overprojection, occurs when the nasal tip extends too far outward from the face. From the side view, it may dominate the profile, while from the front, it can cast a shadow or pull attention away from the eyes or lips.

Overprojection can be:

• Genetic — common among patients with a high nasal bridge or strong cartilage framework.

• Post-surgical — caused by overly aggressive augmentation or poorly supported implants in past surgeries.

• Aging-related — as nasal skin thins and cartilage weakens, the tip may droop and appear more projected over time.

What many patients don’t realize is that fixing a protruding nose isn’t about simply “cutting it down.” It’s about reshaping the underlying structure while maintaining the nose’s support, function, and harmony with your other features.

Why Simply Reducing Size Often Fails

You may have seen noses that look pinched, scooped, or artificial after surgery — this is often the result of over-reduction. When too much cartilage is removed or the structure is weakened, the nose can collapse or lose support over time. This leads to functional issues like:

• Difficulty breathing

• Nasal valve collapse

• Tip drooping or asymmetry

At Kowon Plastic Surgery, we take a different approach. Instead of reducing blindly, we focus on strategic reshaping — reinforcing and reorienting the nose to improve projection without compromising airflow or long-term stability.

Dr. Kim Hyung Taek, our lead surgeon, is known for his use of rib cartilage reconstruction, especially in revision cases where support has been lost. By building a strong, natural framework from the patient’s own tissue, we can reduce projection and maintain a graceful, balanced nasal line.

Understanding Facial Balance: It’s Not Just About the Nose

One of the biggest mistakes in rhinoplasty is treating the nose in isolation. A nose that looks prominent may not be “too big” — it might simply be mismatched with the chin, forehead, or cheek structure.

Here’s how we assess facial harmony:

• Profile view: We look at the relationship between the forehead, nasal bridge, and chin. A slightly recessed chin, for example, can exaggerate nasal projection.

• Frontal view: We assess the width, symmetry, and soft tissue volume in the cheeks, lips, and eye area.

• Facial type: A smaller or more delicate face may require more conservative adjustments to avoid overcorrection.

Our surgical planning always includes 3D imaging and facial analysis, which allows patients to see how even subtle adjustments to the nasal tip or bridge can rebalance the entire face.

So, How Can You Reduce a Protruding Nose?

There are multiple methods — and the best approach depends on whether it's your first surgery or a revision.

1. Primary Rhinoplasty for Protrusion

In first-time surgeries, we can typically reshape the nose using your existing cartilage.

Key steps include:

• Tip rotation and deprojection: Adjusting the angle and position of the tip to reduce how far it sticks out.

• Cartilage reshaping: Reorienting the lower lateral cartilages to make the nose more compact and refined.

• Support grafting: Using septal cartilage (if available) to stabilize the new shape without implants.

For patients with thick skin or a strong cartilage framework, we avoid aggressive reduction. Instead, we use fine-tuned techniques that focus on repositioning rather than removal.

2. Revision Rhinoplasty for Overprojection

If you’ve had a previous rhinoplasty that left your nose too projected — or unstable due to implant use — a revision approach is needed.

This is where rib cartilage plays a key role.

Why rib cartilage?

• It’s strong enough to rebuild a collapsed or poorly shaped nose.

• It integrates well with the body and is less likely to be rejected than artificial implants.

• It allows for custom carving — letting us reduce projection while maintaining support.

Dr. Kim’s method focuses on implant-free revision rhinoplasty, particularly for patients who had silicone implants that pushed the tip too far out. By replacing artificial materials with sculpted rib cartilage, we can re-contour the nasal line in a way that feels natural and breathable.

Real-Life Insight: “Smaller” Isn’t Always Better

We recently treated a patient from the U.S. who had two prior nose jobs. Her concern? “My nose still sticks out. It doesn’t look right in photos.”

Her previous surgeries had focused on adding height to the bridge, but didn’t address the overprojected tip — in fact, it had been made more prominent due to a high-riding silicone implant.

During her revision at Kowon, we:

• Removed the old implant

• Harvested her rib cartilage

• Rebuilt a softer, less projected tip

• Supported the base of the nose for long-term stability

The result wasn’t just a “smaller nose” — it was a nose that finally fit her face. Her profile looked elegant, her breathing improved, and for the first time in years, she felt like herself again.

The Role of Experience in Fixing Projection

Overprojection corrections are among the most technically challenging in rhinoplasty. Why? Because they require:

• Structural knowledge — understanding how each cartilage segment affects projection

• Aesthetic sensitivity — knowing how to reduce volume without flattening expression

• Functional skill — maintaining airflow while adjusting the nasal tip and base

Dr. Kim has over 19 years of experience in nasal reconstruction, and serves as adjunct professor at Sungkyunkwan University and head of the Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty Center at O&Young. His techniques are globally recognized for achieving natural deprojection without long-term collapse or breathing issues.

Common Questions About Fixing a Protruding Nose

Will my nose look too short if you reduce projection?

Not if it’s done correctly. At Kowon, we don’t simply cut down — we reshape the support structure to maintain height and soft contours. A well-deprojected nose still has presence, just with better proportion.

Can this be done without using implants?

Yes. In fact, we strongly recommend avoiding implants, especially in revision cases. Rib cartilage offers a safer, more natural-looking alternative.

Is it painful to harvest rib cartilage?

With modern techniques, harvesting rib cartilage is safe and well-tolerated. The scar is typically under 2.5 cm, placed in a hidden area. Most patients recover quickly, with minimal discomfort.

How long is the recovery?

Initial swelling subsides within 2–3 weeks, with most patients returning to work or travel after 10–14 days. Full refinement takes 6–12 months, as with any rhinoplasty.

Final Thoughts: Projection Isn’t the Problem — Imbalance Is

A protruding nose is rarely just about the nose. It’s about how that nose fits within the canvas of your face. At Kowon Plastic Surgery, our philosophy is to create harmony, not just change.

That means:

Prioritizing function and beauty
Avoiding implants whenever possible
Using advanced rib cartilage techniques for safe, stable, natural refinement
Customizing every surgery to the patient’s individual facial structure

Considering Fixing a Protruding Nose?

If your nose feels too prominent — whether due to genetics, aging, or a previous surgery — consult a clinic that understands both the science and the subtlety of nasal balance.

At Kowon Plastic Surgery, we specialize in precisely this kind of case. You don’t need to “shrink” your nose to look better — you just need a surgeon who sees the whole picture.