Open Rhinoplasty

Open Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping is the second most popular plastic surgery procedure performed in the USA. 255,972 of these operations were performed in the United States last year (statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Sometimes this operation is performed for cosmetic reasons and sometimes because the patient is having trouble breathing through the nose.

Rhinoplasty can be performed both open and closed. Open rhinoplasty is for patients that have a bulbous tip, drooping tip, or asymmetric tip. The nose is opened with an incision between the nostrils. This exposes the cartilages of the tip where they can be trimmed and sutured. The hump and bones are then treated the same as the closed approach. Stitches on the inside mucosa of the nose dissolve, and stitches in the area between the nostrils are removes at 5 days. A splint is also worn for 1-2 weeks.