What Causes a Nasal Dorsal Hump?

Is it possible that the hump on my nose is inherited?The nasal dorsum connects the tip of the nose to the face, which is why we commonly refer to it as the “bridge”. Any abnormalities in this area of the nose play a significant role in the aesthetics of the face, especially when viewed from the side. When there is a hump in the upper region, it is probably made up of bone, while in the lower area, it will more likely consist of cartilage. Often, though, the hump will be a combination of cartilage and excess bone.Although trauma sustained during the birthing experience as well as injury to the nose later in life are common causes for the dorsal hump, the main contributing factor is genetics. Knowing whether the cause is due to heredity or injury is important, which is one of the reasons that an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon will recommend waiting until the nose has had an opportunity to fully develop. The nose grows along with the rest of the body but also tends to experience spurts. There is rapid growth in the early months and then another peak around puberty. It is during adolescence when birth trauma may become more easily detected.Injury, whether at birth or the result of some sort of later accident or trauma, is fairly straightforward and the consultation with your rhinoplasty surgeon will focus on the procedure itself; what results to expect, before and after instructions, the length of the healing process and other details about the surgery. When that distinctive shape is inherited, however, especially if it is related to your ethnic background, there is more to consider. Drastically altering this sort of feature is not something that should be taken likely.Every nose job is different and should be approached with the individual in mind. Cookie cutter type noses may have seen some popularity in the past but that is not the case today. How you choose to alter the shape of your nose should take your ethnic heritage into account as well as other desired goals. Discuss this issue with your family and friends. While it is, of course, your decision, their support will be important. If you are going to be surprised by their reactions, it is better for that to happen before the surgery rather than after.The shape of the nose, especially the bridge, determines much of the character of the nose and the entire face. We start our day by taking one last look in the mirror before we head out to face the world. That image we carry in our mind is not even the whole story. As Graziella Lupo, author of The History of Aesthetic Rhinoplasty, stated…”The profile, above all, is of special fascination, since it is the aspect of ourselves we never actually see.“A dorsal hump, whether inherited or through an injury, can have a considerable effect on facial aesthetics, but, fortunately, it is something that be readily corrected through rhinoplasty. Just make sure you partner with a rhinoplasty surgeon who has the experience and compassion to walk you through all the steps in making that decision.It is the recognition of the importance of the image we present to the world that has motivated Dr. Geoffrey Tobias to combine his extensive surgical training and natural artistic talents with a sixth sense of what constitutes individual beauty. Experienced, board certified and dedicated, Dr. Tobias was recognized 12 times as “best in his field” by New York Magazine. When you need a highly-skilled and experienced rhinoplasty surgeon, you could not make a better decision than to request a consultation with Dr. Tobias. To start that process, simply click here.