Cartilage suturing
The tip cartilages are reshaped and stitched for a narrower, more defined point without added material.
ChangeRefinedMaterialYour own
Rhinoplasty
Tip Plasty
코끝 성형
The tip is where the nose reads as natural or not — we refine it in millimetres with your own cartilage.
Duration1–1.5 hours
AnesthesiaSleep / local
Recovery5–7 days
Overview
Tip plasty focuses on the lower third of the nose, where a bulbous, wide or drooping tip most affects the face. The cartilages of the tip are reshaped and, where needed, reinforced with a small graft of your own cartilage to add definition and a subtle lift. Because the work is structural rather than skin-deep, the refined point holds its shape over time and stays soft and natural to the touch.
Before & after
Individual results vary; images are shared with patient consent.
Notice: To protect patient privacy, the images shown are based on photographs of actual patients; however, identifying features have been modified using AI retouching technology. These images are provided solely to aid understanding of surgical outcomes and may differ from actual photographs. Individual results may vary.
Methods & options
Septal-cartilage graft
A small graft from your septum adds projection and a stable, lasting lift.
ProjectionImprovedStabilityHigh
Ear-cartilage refinement
Soft ear cartilage smooths and reshapes the tip where fine contour is the goal.
FeelVery softContourNatural
Comparing the three techniques
Cartilage suturing
Septal-cartilage graft
Ear-cartilage refinement
What it does
Re-sutures the tip cartilages
Adds support for projection
Smooths and shapes
Material
Your own cartilage
Septal cartilage
Ear cartilage
Projection
Moderate
High
Minimal
Stability
Medium
High
Low to medium
Feel
Natural
Firm and stable
Very soft
Suited to
For a wide, round tip
For insufficient projection
For thin skin and a soft contour
Core values
01
Structure over skin
Definition comes from reshaping cartilage, so the result is stable, not a temporary tuck.
02
Your own tissue
Grafts use your septal or ear cartilage for a tip that feels and moves naturally.
03
Proportion to the bridge
The tip is designed against your existing bridge so the whole nose stays balanced.
Precautions
- 01Avoid pressure or knocks to the tip for several weeks.
- 02Do not wear glasses that rest low on the nose during early healing.
- 03Refrain from strenuous exercise and saunas for 3–4 weeks.
- 04Do not smoke — it slows healing of the reshaped cartilage.
- 05Attend follow-ups so tip swelling is monitored as it settles.
At a glance
| Procedure time | 1–1.5 hours |
|---|---|
| Anesthesia | Sleep sedation or local |
| Downtime | 5–7 days |
| Results settle | 3–6 months, lasting |
Who should consider this
- 01A bulbous, rounded or wide nasal tip.
- 02A drooping tip that shortens the nose or ages the profile.
- 03An under-defined tip out of proportion with the bridge.
- 04Anyone wanting refinement of the tip alone, not the whole nose.
The bridge gets the attention, but the tip is where the eye decides if a nose is natural. I spend my patience there, millimetre by millimetre.
Sangwon Lee, M.D., PhD.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
The tip decides whether a nose reads as sculpted or simply changed. That distinction is where I spend most of my attention.
Daeyoung Kim, M.D., PhD.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
The process
01Consult
Analysis & consultation
Facial-proportion mapping and an unhurried 1:1 discussion of your concerns and goals.
02Design
Bespoke design
A plan drawn to your own anatomy and facial balance — never a template.
03Procedure
Tip refinement
Tip cartilages are reshaped and reinforced with your own cartilage under sleep or local anesthesia.
04Care
Recovery & follow-up
Scheduled reviews as swelling settles and the result matures.
Frequently asked
Yes — tip plasty addresses only the lower third of the nose, so it is a shorter procedure with a quicker recovery when the bridge is already balanced.
Because we use your own cartilage and suture technique, the refined tip stays soft and natural to the touch.
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Get in touch
5F, 4 Sangmu-jungang-ro 28beon-gil, Seo-gu, GwangjuDirections & map apps
Booking & consultation062-227-3777
WeekdaysAM 09:30 – PM 06:30WeekendSaturday AM 09:00 – PM 03:00 (Lunch break 12:30–13:00)Closed Sundays and public holidays