Rhinoplasty Essentials

Rhinoplasty is a surgery of millimeters.

There are healing forces in rhinoplasty that the surgeon cannot control.

Skin differences and the milieu of healing vary among individuals, with some people healing fast and others slow.

The three major complications of rhinoplasty are: bleeding and infection, aesthetic dissatisfaction, and minor imperfections.

Aesthetic dissatisfaction can be prevented through frank discussion where the patient feels comfortable asking questions and the surgeon provides a morph (two-dimensional depiction of expected nasal appearance).

A morph is a two-dimensional depiction that helps guide patient and surgeon regarding expected rhinoplasty results, though it cannot capture three-dimensional structure, shadows, and other aspects.

Minor imperfections such as palpable bumps that are not visible are much more common than not as part of rhinoplasty healing.

In closed rhinoplasty, there are no external incisions and all work is done from the inside.

In closed rhinoplasty, tip cartilages are pulled out and manipulated based on feel.

Open rhinoplasty uses an external incision on the columella.

Open rhinoplasty includes hidden incisions that allow direct visualization of cartilages and bone being remodeled.

Open rhinoplasty is much more precise than closed technique.

The current trend in rhinoplasty is towards open technique.