Open Rhinoplasty

Abstract

Rhinoplasty is often considered the black box of plastic surgery. This apprehension can be overcome by having a fine-tuned understanding of nasal anatomy, developing an appreciation for nasal aesthetics, and becoming well-versed in the array of surgical techniques available to address specific cosmetic and functional concerns. Technical care and finesse are required in this type of surgery, where even 1 mm of change can result in a profound difference. Nasal function must also be assessed and preserved during rhinoplasty. Aside from these technical points, it is equally important to accurately and thoroughly understand each patient’s goals and to communicate the realistic outcomes and limitations of what can be done through surgery.   Key words: open rhinoplasty, nasal anatomy, nasofacial analysis, rhinoplasty techniques, rhinoplasty preoperative evaluation, rhinoplasty postoperative management, lateral nasal osteotomies, nasal tip grafts, nasal tip suture techniques This review contains 23 figures, 2 tables, and 43 references.