The nasal hump.

What is a nasal hump?

A hump is a prominence on the bridge of the nose, seen mainly in profile. It is made of bone in its upper part and cartilage in its lower part, in proportions that vary from one nose to another. That composition guides the technique: a hump that is mainly bony is not treated like one that is mainly cartilaginous.

A hump is not a flaw in itself — many faces carry one very well. The question is never "should it be removed?" but "what bothers you, and how far should we go?".

Removing the hump, or lowering the bridge?

These are the two philosophies of nasal surgery. Classic rhinoplasty removes the bone and cartilage that form the hump, then closes the framework. Preservation rhinoplasty instead lowers the whole bridge without touching its surface: the original lines are kept, which gives a particularly natural profile.

Two variants of preservation allow that lowering: the push-down, which removes no strip of bone at the sides, and the let-down, which may require it. In practice, when the bony component of the hump is significant, Dr Lange favours the let-down.

Preservation or hybrid rhinoplasty?

Preservation does not suit every nose, and the deciding factor is simpler than it sounds: it is read on the front view.

If the front view is already harmonious, Dr Lange stays with preservation: the hump goes and the nose keeps its lines. If it is not — a deviated, wide or irregular nose — he combines preservation with structural work, which modifies the bone and cartilage more directly. This is called a hybrid rhinoplasty: keep what can be kept, rebuild what must be rebuilt.

What ultrasound changes

The bony part of the hump was historically treated with a rasp or a chisel. Ultrasonic rhinoplasty sculpts the bone with an ultrasonic instrument, without fracturing it. The gesture is more precise on the bridge, and the after-effects are generally gentler.

Can the hump be corrected on its own?

Yes, when the tip does not need to be changed. But the nose is judged as a whole: lowering the bridge changes how the tip is perceived, and the balance between the two is often part of the project. This is one of the points reviewed during the consultation, with a simulation.

The procedure and recovery

The procedure is performed in the operating room, under anaesthesia, and lasts on average 2 hours. A splint protects the nose for about a week. Social life resumes after one to two weeks, then the result refines gradually: the profile takes shape quickly, the tip more slowly, up to around a year. The stages are detailed in recovery.

Can the hump come back?

A partial return of the convexity of the bridge remains possible, as with any rhinoplasty. It is one of the points discussed before surgery, along with the other risks: asymmetry, irregularity, insufficient or excessive correction, breathing difficulty, or the need for a surgical touch-up. When a correction is needed on a nose that has already been operated on, it falls under secondary rhinoplasty. These points are gone through in consultation, together with the SOFCPRE information sheet (opens in a new window).

Why choose Dr Lange in Montpellier?

A surgeon dedicated exclusively to rhinoplasty in Montpellier, Dr Frédéric Lange practises both preservation and structural techniques, and can therefore choose — or combine — the one that suits your nose, rather than always applying the same. Patients from other regions and countries are seen as part of a rhinoplasty from a distance.