Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic nose surgery that can be used to reshape the soft and bony tissue of the nose to produce facial symmetry, improve breathing and proportional balance. It can be further divided into open and closed rhinoplasty. Each subtype has its own advantages and disadvantages. Your surgeon will make a choice between the two depending on your anatomy, and the result required from the surgery.
Open Rhinoplasty
Through this approach, a small incision is made across the columella which is the soft tissue found in between the two nostrils. This method produces a small scar that can be visible for up to 6 months following the surgery. The advantage of this method is that it allows the surgeon to have access to the nasal tip even if there is a significant amount of scarring and damage to the anatomy of the nose from a previous rhinoplasty.
It’s also the preferred method for individuals who present with variation in the anatomy orientation of the alar tip cartilages compared to the general population. It is the preferred method when using grafts or implants due to the higher degree of control and precision it will allow when correcting the nasal shape. The nose is a complex structure and increased visibility can be beneficial when complex work is undertaken.
Closed Rhinoplasty
Through this method of rhinoplasty, all incisions are made inside the nostrils so they are not visible to the naked eye following the surgery. The main advantage to the closed rhinoplasty technique, is to significantly reduce the duration of the surgery as well as the healing time due to the fact that this is a less invasive procedure. This technique is also associated with reduced swelling to the nasal tip and it presents with no visible scar along the columella which is quite common in open rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty is extremely valuable in a patient who requires a minor nasal tip reshaping.
As an experienced facial and rhinoplasty surgeon, Dr. Philip Solomon has performed both open and closed Rhinoplasty surgeries throughout his 20 year career as Rhinoplasty specialist. Dr. Solomon will determine which technique is required for your individual needs in order to get the best possible results.
At the Solomon Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgery Centre, we typically recommend the less invasive closed rhinoplasty technique for a majority of our patients as it is associated with fewer complications, faster healing times and a better cosmetic appearance. However, if required we would consider performing an open rhinoplasty according to the requirements of our clients who may present with a complex anatomy, require grafts or implants which would warrant the open rhinoplasty approach.
Sep 19th 2017