Dr Sanjay Parashar, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation, Dubai · DHA licence 00244892A nose hump (dorsal hump) is a bump on the bridge of the nose. The upper part is bone and the lower part is cartilage, and most humps are a mix of both. It is usually inherited, sometimes the result of an injury. It is removed with rhinoplasty: the hump is lowered, and the bridge is then narrowed and supported so it stays smooth and even from the front. Most people return to desk work in 7–10 days; the final shape takes about a year.
What is a nose hump?
Seen from the side, the bridge (dorsum) of the nose normally runs in a gentle, almost straight line from between the eyes to the tip. A hump is a rise along that line. Some people see it only in profile photos; for others it is the first thing they notice in the mirror.
What causes a nose hump? Your anatomy explained
The bridge is a roof: two nasal bones on top, two upper lateral cartilages below them, and the septum running down the middle as the ridge beam. A hump forms where this roof grows higher than the rest of the profile — usually at the junction of bone and cartilage.
| What you see | What's underneath | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| A bump high on the bridge | Prominent nasal bones | The bone is lowered with fine rasps or an ultrasonic device |
| A bump in the middle of the bridge | The top of the septum and upper lateral cartilages | The cartilage is trimmed precisely so the bridge stays even |
| The bridge looks wide after the hump is gone | Removing a hump leaves an 'open roof' between the bones | Controlled bone cuts (osteotomies) close and narrow the roof |
| The hump looks bigger when the tip droops | A weak or long tip | Tip support and rotation are adjusted at the same time |
Common causes: family traits (the most common), an injury that thickened the bone, or natural growth during the teenage years.
Is it a true hump? A quick self-check
Take a side-profile photo in even light with your head level. It may be a true hump if:
- A ruler laid from between your eyebrows to your tip touches the bump, not the whole bridge
- The bump is visible in relaxed and smiling photos alike
- You can feel a hard ridge when you run a finger down your bridge
- Your tip dips when you smile (this can make a hump look larger)
- Your chin sits well behind your lips (a small chin makes a hump look bigger)
Send us three photos — front, left side and right side — on WhatsApp for an initial opinion from Dr Sanjay.
Send 3 photos on WhatsApp+971 50 919 8203 · photos are seen only by the clinic teamWhat are my treatment options?
| Option | What it does | What it can't do | Recovery | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhinoplasty — hump reduction | Lowers bone and cartilage in controlled stages, then narrows and supports the bridge; can also refine the tip | Cannot make the bridge perfectly straight in every light; very thick skin limits definition | 7–10 days social; 12 months final | Permanent |
| Rhinoplasty — dorsal preservation | Lowers the bridge as a unit, keeping its natural surface; suits some smooth, straight humps | Not suitable for every nose, especially crooked or irregular bridges | 7–10 days social; 12 months final | Permanent |
| Filler camouflage (non-surgical) | Fills above and below a small hump so the line looks straighter | Does not remove the hump — the nose gets slightly bigger, not smaller; carries a rare risk of blocked blood vessels | Same day | Temporary; varies with the filler |
Which technique suits you depends on the size and shape of the hump, the tip, and the skin. It is decided with you at consultation.
Open, closed or septorhinoplasty?
Hump removal is part of a rhinoplasty, and the approach is chosen for what else needs to change:
- Closed rhinoplasty — all incisions inside the nose, no external scar. Suits a hump with little or no tip work.
- Open rhinoplasty — a small incision across the columella gives direct view of the whole framework. Preferred when the tip is also refined or grafts are needed.
- Septorhinoplasty — hump removal combined with straightening the septum, when the nose is also crooked or breathing is blocked. See breathing problems.
- Dorsal preservation rhinoplasty — the bridge is lowered as a unit, keeping its natural surface; suitable for some smooth, straight humps.
- Ultrasonic (piezo) rhinoplasty — bone is shaped with an ultrasonic instrument (Bien-Air or piezo) for precise, controlled work.
How is hump removal done?
- Planning: profile analysis of forehead, nose, lips and chin, so the new line fits the whole face.
- Approach: open (a small incision across the skin between the nostrils) or closed (all incisions inside the nose), depending on what else needs to change.
- Cartilage first: the upper lateral cartilages are separated from the septum and each component is lowered on its own — the 'component' method — so the bridge stays even.
- Bone: the bony hump is reduced with fine rasps or a powered/ultrasonic instrument.
- Closing the roof: osteotomies bring the bones together, so the bridge does not look flat and wide from the front.
- Keeping the airway open: spreader grafts or flaps rebuild the middle of the bridge and support breathing.
- Balancing the tip: if needed, the tip is supported or rotated so the new profile is in proportion.
- Finish: dissolvable stitches and an external splint for about a week.
Men and Middle Eastern noses: men usually suit a straight or very slightly convex bridge — removing too much makes a nose look feminine. Many Arab and Persian noses combine a strong hump with a drooping tip, so the two are planned together.
Nose hump before and after
Real patients of Dr Sanjay, photographed with the same lighting and angle before and 12 months after surgery. Published with written consent. Individual results vary.
Case 1. Nasal hump with a drooping tip
Rhinoplasty (hump reduction and tip lift) · Side and front views
Case 2. Dorsal hump
Rhinoplasty (hump reduction) · Side and front views
Case 3. Nasal hump with a drooping tip
Rhinoplasty (hump reduction and tip lift) · Front, side and smiling views
Case 4. Nasal hump with a drooping tip
Rhinoplasty (hump reduction and tip lift) · Side, front and base views
The side (profile) view shows a hump most clearly. See more rhinoplasty results
Recovery: what to expect week by week
Most people are back at a desk job in 7–10 days; the final shape takes about a year to settle. Timings are typical, not guaranteed.
| When | What happens | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Nose feels blocked; mild pain controlled with tablets; splint on | Rest with head raised; usually home the next day |
| Days 2–5 | Swelling and bruising around the eyes peak, then fade | Short walks; no bending or lifting |
| Day 7 | Splint and any stitches removed | See your nose for the first time; still swollen |
| Days 10–14 | Most bruising gone | Back to work and social life |
| Weeks 3–4 | Swelling keeps falling | Light exercise |
| Week 6 | Bones are stable | Gym, swimming, glasses resting on the nose |
| Month 3 | About 80% of swelling gone | Nose looks natural to others |
| Month 12 | Tip swelling fully settled | Final result; review photos |
Specific to hump removal:
- After osteotomies, bruising around the eyes is common for 7–10 days
- Avoid glasses resting on the bridge for about 6 weeks while the bones set
- Swelling can make the bridge look slightly full for some weeks before it settles
Dubai-specific tips: avoid direct sun and the beach for 4–5 weeks, use SPF on the nose, and plan around Ramadan fasting and the summer heat. International patients: plan a minimum stay of 7–8 days in Dubai before flying home.
Risks, and how they are reduced
Every operation carries risk. These are the ones that matter most for this problem, and how they are reduced.
| Risk | What it means | How it is reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Too much removed | A scooped or 'operated' look | Staged, measured reduction; checking the profile repeatedly during surgery |
| Residual hump or irregularity | A small bump or edge felt or seen once swelling settles | Smoothing of bone edges; thin camouflage grafts when needed |
| Wide or flat bridge from the front | An 'open roof' left after hump removal | Osteotomies to close the roof |
| Pinched middle vault | A narrow step below the bones, sometimes with blocked breathing | Spreader grafts or flaps |
| Bleeding or infection | Uncommon; usually minor | Stop blood-thinning medicines and supplements before surgery; sterile, accredited theatre |
| Prolonged swelling | Especially with thick skin; the tip settles last | Taping, and steroid injections when needed |
| Numbness, scarring, asymmetry | Temporary tip numbness; a fine scar with the open approach; minor asymmetry | Explained at consultation |
| Breathing changes | Rarely, breathing feels worse | Assess the airway before surgery; keep or add support to the nasal valves |
| Need for revision | A second, usually smaller, operation | Realistic planning and staged follow-up |
| Anaesthesia risks | Rare in healthy patients | Pre-operative tests; certified anaesthetist |
Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Smoking, some medicines and certain medical conditions increase risk.
How much does nose hump removal cost in Dubai?
The fee for nose hump removal depends on what needs to change, whether grafts are needed, and whether it is a first or revision operation. You receive a written, itemised quote after consultation.
What changes the price:
- Hump reduction alone, or with tip work
- Whether breathing surgery is combined
- Whether grafts are needed
- Primary vs revision surgery
For context, rhinoplasty in Dubai generally ranges from about AED 15,000 to AED 65,000. Payment options are available on request.
Why choose Dr Sanjay Parashar in Dubai?
- Component hump reduction with ultrasonic (Bien-Air) or piezo bone work for a smooth, even bridge
- Profile planned against your forehead, lips and chin — including the radix and tip when a pseudo-hump is the real issue
- 3,000+ rhinoplasties within more than 40,000 aesthetic procedures
- Practising in Dubai since 2005 — founder of Cocoona Centre for Aesthetic Transformation (Dubai 2009, New Delhi 2013)
- ISAPS National Secretary for the UAE (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)
- Member of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe
- Experience with many nose types: Arab, Persian, South Asian, African, East Asian and European
- Published papers, conference presentations and surgical workshops
- Languages: English, Hindi; Arabic via coordinator
Frequently asked questions
Can a nose hump grow back?
Can the hump just be shaved down?
Can fillers hide my hump?
Will my face look different?
Will there be visible scars?
How painful is it, and when can I go back to work?
When can I fly home after surgery?
What is the right age for rhinoplasty?
How do I prepare for my consultation?
Related nose problems
Book your nose hump consultation
Every nose is different. At your consultation Dr Sanjay examines the outside and inside of your nose, explains what is causing the nose hump, and gives you a clear plan, cost and recovery timeline.
Cocoona Clinic · Lucia Clinic · Dubai London Hospital
References
- Rohrich RJ, Muzaffar AR, Janis JE. Component dorsal hump reduction: the importance of maintaining dorsal aesthetic lines in rhinoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2004;114(5):1298–1308. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000135861.45986.CF
- Saban Y, Daniel RK, Polselli R, et al. Dorsal preservation: the push down technique reassessed. Aesthet Surg J. 2018;38(2):117–131. doi:10.1093/asj/sjx180
- Rohrich RJ, Ahmad J. Rhinoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2011;128(2):49e–73e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e31821e7191
- Parashar S, Venkataram A. Structured analysis of nose to achieve natural results in rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology (Sunnyvale). 2017;7(1):293. doi:10.4172/2161-119X.1000293