Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a surgical operation aimed at modifying the structure of the external nose1. It can be motivated by functional problems or by aesthetic concerns.

The operation can nowadays be performed under general or local anesthesia and can last from one to two hours.

We mainly distinguish open rhinoplasty, closed rhinoplasty, and ultrasonic rhinoplasty.

The goal of a rhinoplasty is to bring about a modification of the shape of the nose, and to obtain a natural and harmonious result, but also satisfactory respiratory function.

The purpose of the intervention is therefore, by working under the skin, to modify the shape or position of the bones and cartilages, which constitute the solid framework of the nose and give it its particular shape, so different from one case to another. This framework is lined on the inside by the nasal mucosa. Other modifications can directly concern the wings of the nose, the subcutaneous tissues, etc.

The skin is more or less thick, elastic and of better or worse quality depending on each individual. The correction is therefore made by appropriately and carefully reducing the bone and cartilages, which is the most frequent case; but also, most often, by reshaping the cartilages using sutures, and by adding cartilage fragments so that the skin redraped thanks to its elasticity over the new osteo-cartilaginous framework that has been created. (This underscores the extreme importance of skin qualities).

We speak of primary rhinoplasty when it is a first operation, and of secondary rhinoplasty when the nose has already been operated on at least once. We speak of rhinoseptoplasty when the structures of the nose and nasal septum are modified.