FAQ:

Changing nostril size and shape

The size and shape of the nostrils cannot be controlled with the same finesse and accuracy as some of the other nasal features.  Most of the rhinoplasty operation involves altering the size and position of the bone and cartilage underneath the skin.  As the skin wraps around the new bony-cartilaginous framework, the nose achieves its new shape.  The nostrils, however, are only rolls of thickened skin.  They contain no cartilage that we can carve and shape, and subsequently we don't have many procedures for precisely controlling their size and shape.

The width of the nostrils can often be lessened by simply making an incision at the base of the nostrils and removing a small piece of skin.  That procedure doesn't work to narrow the nostrils in everyone, however.  It doesn't alter the location where the nostril meets the cheek; it only changes the flare or curve of the nostril adjacent to where it attaches to the cheek.

Even though we can't tailor the size and shape of the nostrils with high accuracy, the good news is that your cat gets a much better view of your nostrils than your friends do, so for most people the appearance of the nostrils is a lower priority feature than many other areas of the nose.

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