When it comes to rhinoplasty incisions, the patient and the surgeon have different options. The type of rhinoplasty incision chosen will depend on the extent of the surgery and the results that the patient desires.
For minor adjustments, the surgeon may perform the endonasal or closed rhinoplasty; in this approach, the incisions are made only inside the nasal passage. On the other hand, open rhinoplasty requires an incision to be made outside the nose, where scarring is more visible, but the surgeon has better access to the nose during the surgery. The patient and surgeon should discuss possible techniques during a pre-operative consultation to determine which incision method will best suit the patient’s surgery.
Open Rhinoplasty
Open rhinoplasty, or external rhinoplasty, requires that incisions be made on the surface of the nose. In general, the surgeon will make the incision across the columella, allowing the surgeon to lift the skin off the nose and view the underlying structures, making adjustments as necessary.
This is the best method for a surgeon who needs a better view and improved access to the nose’s bone and cartilage. This technique provides the surgeon with more accuracy, the ability to be more versatile in the treatment approach, and overall improved effectiveness. The only downside is the possibility of scarring on the outside of the nose; however, these scars are discreetly located and barely visible.
Closed Rhinoplasty
In a closed rhinoplasty, incisions are made, but they are kept to the nose’s interior; no cuts are made to the outer skin. This prevents any visible scars.
In a closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon can still make changes to the structure of the nose. However, in some situations, closed rhinoplasty does not provide the surgeon with the visibility and access that he or she needs to achieve the desired results. This approach is technically demanding and challenging and should only be performed by a skilled plastic surgeon such as Dr. Vincent Marin.
Which Is Better?
Both kinds of incisions allow for changes to the structure of the nose. Which incision site is better will depend on the nature of the surgery. Most extensive and complex procedures will necessitate open rhinoplasty, despite the patient’s desire to not have any visible scarring. On the other hand, minimal procedures can be achieved through the closed rhinoplasty option.
We will examine the nasal structure and anatomy during the patient’s initial rhinoplasty consultation to determine what changes will be made during the rhinoplasty procedure. He will also discuss the patient’s desires and goals. Once this consultation is complete, we can formulate a surgical plan and determine if the closed rhinoplasty technique will provide him the visibility and access required to achieve the patient’s goals. If the closed rhinoplasty approach hinders the results of the surgery in any way, we will recommend the open rhinoplasty option.
