Hump Reduction

Reducing a bump on the bridge of the nose is one of the most common requests for rhinoplasty candidates in the San Francisco and Oakland Bay Area. Prominent rhinoplasty surgeon Dr. David Mabrie specializes in hump/bump reduction and nose refinement in his facial plastic surgery offices. In Dr. Mabrie's practice, approximately 80% of rhinoplasties (or nose surgeries) involve some modification of the bump or hump.

As a board-certified facial plastic and reconstruction surgeon and board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist), Dr. David Mabrie is uniquely qualified to perform rhinoplasty surgery. Patients can be assured they have a high degree of care and expertise when they choose Dr. Mabrie. Request a consultation online or call us at (415) 445-9513 today.

Occasionally, our rhinoplasty patients from Oakland and San Francisco have an isolated hump that they desire to reduce or modify. However, more frequently, a hump is present with other anatomic irregularities like a concavity of the bridge, droopy tip, or a mobile tip that moves with speech or smiling.

Before and After Hump Reduction Surgery

Before and after photos of a patient whose only request was to remove a prominent hump.

Anatomy of a Hump

The hump is usually formed where the nasal bones and cartilages come together

Hump with Drooping Tip

Some patients may have a combination of a nasal hump with a drooping tip. A drooping tip can accentuate a hump and make it appear even more prominent. When treating this problem surgically, both the hump and the tip must be addressed to achieve the desired outcome.

Patient shown before and after hump reduction surgery for a droopy tip. The droopy tip makes the profile look curved.

Hump with Mobile Tip

A mobile tip or a tip that moves with speech or smiling is caused by muscle under the nose that attaches to the nasal tip. Rhinoplasty surgery with tip augmentation can eliminate the curvature of the nose, as well as correct the tip mobility.

Before at Rest

Before Smiling

After at Rest

After Smiling

This 24 yo female student of Armenian background consulted with Dr. Mabrie about possible rhinoplasty surgery. While she had a high satisfaction with her face in general, she felt her nose was starting to look just like her father's and wanted to make it softer.

How much hump reduction?

While many rhinoplasty patients in the San Francisco/ Bay Area choose to decrease an extreme hump on the dorsum (bridge), the amount of hump reduction is unique to each individual. The height of the dorsum and the curvature (either concave or convex) of the profile can make the nose appear strong or soft, masculine or effeminate, mature or adolescent, and varies with different ethnic backgrounds.

Hump Camouflage with Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

Small nasal humps may be treated non-surgically with dermafillers. Filler material may be placed above and below the hump with a needle to camouflage the hump. The dermafillers frequently have lidocaine mixed in with them to increase the comfort of the procedures. Patients usually enjoy the results of dermafillers in the nose about 6 months.