Best Nose Job Techniques: Structural vs. Excisional Rhinoplasty

Differences Between Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) Techniques – 

Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali has performed hundreds of rhinoplasty surgeries – giving women and men the attractive and natural looking nose they have always wanted. Rhinoplasty surgery is truly part art and part science, in order to create an attractive nose that is still natural looking, as well as “structurally sound.”

In the early years of “nose jobs” the only way surgeons knew how to alter the shape of the nasal tip was the removal of skeletal tissue. This was called an “excisional rhinoplasty” – because cartilage was actually crudely cut away.

The results of these early, aggressive excisional rhinoplasties were not always pretty, and often lead to the nose becoming progressively deformed over time. Many celebrities, such as Michael Jackson and Joan Rivers, altered their appearance for the worse with overly-aggressive excisional rhinoplasty.

In this article we explain the difference between traditional excisional rhinoplasty and new techniques in structural rhinoplasty that can create a more perfect non-surgical-looking, natural-appearing cosmetic outcome.

Excisional Rhinoplasty

While the current trend in rhinoplasty surgery is gradually shifting toward cartilage preservation, many surgeons still practice excisional rhinoplasty with, aggressive cartilage removal (excision). Unfortunately the result can be deformities, some of which may not fully manifest for months, years, or even decades later.

In theory, just enough cartilage is removed to narrow the tip, but adequate cartilage is left to remain stable and prevent future nasal tip deformities. However, the degree of cartilage needed to maintain nasal stability is nearly impossible to determine at the time of surgery. As a result, eventually the remaining cartilage can buckle from skin shrinkage; or get pulled upward due to scar tightening, or both. And these ill effects can worsen over time as cartilage weakens with age.

Structural Rhinoplasty

Fortunately, there is now an effective alternative nose job technique to excisional rhinoplasty. Structural Rhinoplasty preserves skeletal support in order to avoid the complications of too much cartilage removal.

Instead of cutting, removing, and discarding large amounts of nasal cartilage – which can cause a collapse of the nasal framework – structural rhinoplasty utilizes repositioning and reshaping (folding) the tip of the cartilage to achieve a more attractive contour.

Because structural rhinoplasty “folds” rather than cuts off cartilage, it preserves the skeletal integrity. This dramatically improves the accuracy, reliability, and safety of the rhinoplasty.

In some cases, some tissue excision is still unavoidable – for example in removing a nasal bridge “hump”. However, reducing or reshaping the tip can now be accomplished with little or no cartilage removal. And the resulting tip shape is more natural, and much sturdier – with far less risk of airway collapse or progressive deformity over time.

Birmingham’s Best Rhinoplasty & Nose Job Surgeon

A successful rhinoplasty requires a skillful surgeon to artfully reconfigure the nose, while also ensuring that the attractive new nose will withstand wound-healing, disease, and aging – now and over time.

Dr. Ali follows the four R’s of structural rhinoplasty — Retain, Reposition, Reshape and Reinforce — to achieve the gold standard for contemporary nasal surgery.

If you are considering rhinoplasty, schedule a consultation with Dr. Ali to discuss your options. He will explain how he can give you the nose you have always wanted – attractive, natural looking – with the safety and long term benefits of structural rhinoplasty.

Schedule a Nose Job Consultation with a Birmingham Rhinoplasty Surgeon: 248-335-7200