RHINOPLASTY – NOSE SURGERY

A 38 year old male, very athletic patient (biker, runner) presented in our office requesting nose surgery. He wanted his nose size reduced, but to maintain his ethnic nose features (Southern Europe, Italy). He had difficulties breathing in which made him mostly “mouth breather”. Clinical evaluation showed significant degree of nose obstruction due to severely deviated septum (very frequently seen with this type of nose as a part of an overall nose deformity), large dorsal hump with upper lip pull in particular when he is smiling (left). We performed open rhinoplasty which included removal of nose hump, slight rotation, and refinement of nose tip using cartilage graft removed from his septum during septoplasty (partial cartilage removal and straightening of nasal septum).  Additional strips of cartilage were placed along the septum to enlarge nasal passages on both sides (nasal spreader grafts). Postoperative image demonstrates still large masculine nose, elevated tip, straight nasal dorsum and longer upper lip. Muscle that pulled his lip up when smiling was removed in part and redirected. His breathing has improved significantly due to enlarged nasal passages. He is shown 1.5 years after complex nose surgery (right).

Patient is shown before nose shaping surgery and correction of deviated septum and turbinates (aesthetic and functional nose surgery) on the left. On the right, he is shown 1.5 years after external rhinoplasty, septoplasty and turbinectomy which significantly improved his external nose appearance and breathing problem.

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