Asian rhinoplasty techniques

Paradigm Shift in Rhinoplasty with Virtual 3D Surgery Software and 3D Printing Technology

Most Asians have a nose with a short columella and a low dorsum; augmentation rhinoplasty using implants is commonly performed in Asian countries to achieve a taller and more well-defined nasal dorsum. However, the current knowledge is insufficient to fully understand the various subjective desires of patients, reflect on them during surgery, or to objectively analyze the results after surgery. Advances in digital imaging technologies, such as 3D printing and 3D scanning, have transformed the medical system from hospital-centric to patient-centric throughout the medical field. In this study, we applied these techniques to rhinoplasty. First, we used virtual 3D plastic surgery software to enable surgical planning through objectified numerical calculations based on the visualized data of the patient's medical images rather than simple virtual plastic surgery. Second, the customized nasal implant was manufactured by reflecting the patient's anatomical shape and virtual 3D plastic surgery data. Taken together, we describe the surgical results of applying these rhinoplasty solutions in four patients. Our experience indicates that high fidelity and patient satisfaction can be achieved by applying these techniques.

Vertical Alar Lengthening technique in correcting short noses

BACKGROUND

It is crucial that the nose length must be compatible with the face in order to obtain beautiful results that suits the face. Shorter and upturned noses appear as if the tip of the nose is cut from the front and gives a piggy appearance to the patient's face.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to obtain longer noses with increased tip definition by effectively lengthening the medial and lateral crura's in patients with short nose and Asian noses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vertical Alar Lengthening (VAL) technique was applied to 17 revision and 12 primary Asian noses. VAL technique consists of three steps. In the first step, the medial crus were lengthened by stealing from the lateral crus. Later, a lateral crural extension graft was applied to the shortened lateral crus, and the lateral crus was lengthened and sutured to the medial crus. In the final stage, a subdomal graft was placed and supported in the space formed underneath the alar tip between the mucosa and the new dome. They were followed in average 12 months (between 6 and 18 months).

RESULTS

VAL technique was applied to 17 revision and 12 primer Asian noses. Suggested surgical technique move the tip forward and downward reduced its cephalic rotation and lengthened the nose. Targeted tip point, rotation and projection results were achieved in all patients. All patients had satisfactory esthetic results.

CONCLUSIONS

In revision cases and short nose deformities in Asian noses, the nasal tip point was extended forward and downward with the VAL technique, reducing its rotation and lengthening the nose.

Trends of rhinoplasty research in the last decade with bibliometric analysis

Background

As rhinoplasty (RP) with different requirements is becoming more and more popular in the latest decade, this study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively explore the trends in RP research, depict research hotspots, and point out the future direction with a bibliometric analysis.

Methods

All RP literature studies in the last decade (from 2012 to 2021) were retrieved from the Web of Science Core database. Annual output, institutions, authors, journals, and most-cited literature studies were analyzed by bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace, bibliometric online platform, bibliometrix R language kit, BICOMB, and gCLUTO.

Results

A total of 2,590 RP research studies dated between 2012 and 2021 were included according to our criterion. As for the country, the United States, Turkey, and Korea maintained the top three in RP research. As for the institutions, the University of California, Irvine, Stanford University, and University of Ulsan ranked top three in RP research publications based on article counts. Professor Rhorich RJ, Most SP, and Jang YJ were the most contributed authors according to article counts and citation number. The top journals were The Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, and Aesthetic Surgery Journal. The 10 most-cited literature studies were also listed explicitly in this study. Finally, biclustering analysis on the most frequent keywords were conducted which helped us to identify seven hotspot clusters in RP research.

Conclusions

We comprehensively summarized the publication information of RP literature studies in the past decade, highlighted the current status and trends over time, and provide guidance for in-depth research direction on RP for the future.

Modification of Nasal Dorsal Onlay Graft Based on Anatomic Findings of Rhinion Area

BACKGROUND

The angulation of nasal bones and superior border of septal cartilage forms a slight convex profile at rhinion area. Taking this angulation into account, we bring forth a modification of dorsal onlay graft.

METHODS

Sixty-one consecutive patients underwent primary rhinoplasty between the years of 2017 and 2020 were enrolled in the study. The angle between nasal bones and superior border of septal cartilage, angle of external dorsal contour, thickness of soft tissue at sellion and rhinion were measured on reformed computed tomographic scanning image. Three variants of dorsal onlay graft modification were designed.

RESULTS

Sixty-one patients underwent primary nasal augmentation were enrolled in this study. Mean follow-up was 13.1 months. The angle between nasal bones and the superior border of the septal cartilage was 166.7° by mean. Mean angle of external dorsal contour was 180.2°. Thickness of soft tissue at sellion was 4.01 and 2.03 mm at rhinion by mean. All cases showed content dorsal profiles. Two patients (3.3%) presented discernible nostril asymmetry due to the deviation of the columellar grafts and underwent secondary surgery with satisfying outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Modification of the dorsal onlay graft reserves nasal midvault to the most extent especially in small-humped nose and fits the dorsal contour properly.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

The usefulness of patient-specific 3D nasal silicone implant using 3D design and order form

PURPOSE

The need for customized implants has continuously increased, but patient-specific silicone implants are not yet commonly used in the plastic surgery market. We sought to validate the effectiveness of a 3D customized nasal implant design in terms of design and lead time compared with a manually customized implant by a surgeon.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on the computed tomography (CT) findings of 15 patients who planned rhinoplasty, a surgeon wrote order forms reflecting the surgical plan and subsequently designed implants manually using epoxy on a 3D printed skull. Separately, engineers analyzed the CT findings and designed 3D implants based on the order forms.

RESULTS

Epoxy designs were 3D-scanned, converted into a stereolithography format and compared with 3D implant designs to assess which method had a smaller margin of error as per the preoperative order form. Moreover, the lead time in all steps are compared. Nasion thickness, tip thickness, glabella starting point, glabella width, radix width, and total volume were comparatively analyzed. In all parameters, the error rate of the 3D design is relatively lower than that of the epoxy design. The former also had a lower total volume and a faster manufacturing time.

CONCLUSION

With novel 3D customized nasal implants, the limitations of ready-made silicone implants are addressed, and it is now possible to preoperatively design implants more accurately, quickly, and conveniently.

Single-stage repair of secondary unilateral cleft lip-nose deformity in adults

Correction of cleft lip-nose deformity in adult patients is different from that in children. One-stage correction has proved to be a suitable technique for patients with cleft-lip nose deformity. This study aimed to explore a particular single-stage method and evaluate the effect of simultaneous reparation of secondary unilateral cleft lip-nose deformities. Cleft lip patients who had previously undergone nasolabial surgery with residual poor nasal/lip appearance were included. The alveolar bone defect was repaired with granular costal cortical bone. Lip revision and rhinoplasty were performed using diced costal cartilage. The lip, nose, and alveolar deformities were corrected in one stage. From 2011 to 2017, 53 cases were treated. The vermilion discrepancy was corrected in all cases. Fifty-one patients were successfully treated, with primary healing in the bony recipient area. Cancellous bone exposure occurred in two cases. The wounds were healed after debridement and drainage. Appearances were improved in all patients. The mean change in columella-labial angle ranged from 82.50 to 92.78° (p < 0.001). This one-stage correction appears to have led to a distinct improvement in the nasal tip projection and lip. The method is considered to be effective and reliable in patients with secondary unilateral cleft lip-nose deformities.

Correction of Short Nose

To correct an Asian short nose with low dorsum, short columella, and poorly defined nose tip, augmentation rhinoplasty has been popularized. A simple augmentation no longer is considered an efficient rhinoplasty approach for Asians aesthetically; most surgeons simultaneously perform nasal elongation and augmentation during rhinoplasty. To extend the nose length successfully, important factors are cartilages, mucosal and skin conditions, and presence and degree of fibrotic changes. In addition, surgeons should consider preoperatively how much should be extended from an aesthetics perspective. This article introduces the current practice of surgical correction of the short nose in Asians.

Facial Assessment and Injection Guide for Botulinum Toxin and Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Focus on the Midface

This second article of a three-part series addresses techniques and recommendations for aesthetic treatment of the midface. Injectable fillers are important for rejuvenation of the midface by replacing lost volume and providing structural support; neuromodulators play a smaller role in this facial region. Fillers are used for volumization and contouring of the midface regions, including the upper cheek and lid-cheek junction and the submalar and preauricular areas. Also, treatment of the frontonasal angle, the dorsum, the nasolabial angle, and the columella may be used to shape and contour the nose. Neuromodulators may be used to treat bunny lines and for elevation of the nasal tip. The midface is considered an advanced area for treatment, and injectors are advised to obtain specific training, particularly when injecting fillers near the nose, because of the risk of serious complications, including blindness and necrosis. Injections made in the midcheek must be performed with caution to avoid the infraorbital artery.

A Practical Approach to Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty continues to be one of the most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedures. Over the past 25 years, the open approach has increased in popularity and is the focus of this article. The principles for successful rhinoplasty include comprehensive clinical analysis and defining rhinoplasty goals, preoperative consultation and planning, precise operative execution, postoperative management, and critical analysis of one's results. Systematic nasal analysis is critical to establish the goals of surgery. Techniques to address the nasal dorsum, nasal airway, tip complex, alar rims, and bony vault that provide consistent results are discussed.

Efficacy and Safety of a Hyaluronic Acid Filler to Correct Aesthetically Detracting or Deficient Features of the Asian Nose: A Prospective, Open-Label, Long-Term Study

BACKGROUND

There is increasing interest among patients and plastic surgeons for alternatives to rhinoplasty, a common surgical procedure performed in Asia.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and longevity of a hyaluronic acid filler in the correction of aesthetically detracting or deficient features of the Asian nose.

METHODS

Twenty-nine carefully screened Asian patients had their noses corrected with the study filler (Juvéderm VOLUMA [Allergan plc, Dublin, Ireland] with lidocaine injectable gel), reflecting individualized treatment goals and utilizing a standardized injection procedure, and were followed for over 12 months.

RESULTS

A clinically meaningful correction (≥1 grade improvement on the Assessment of Aesthetic Improvement Scale) was achieved in 27 (93.1%) patients at the first follow-up visit. This was maintained in 28 (96.6%) patients at the final visit, based on the independent assessments of a central non-injecting physician and the patients. At this final visit, 23 (79.3%) patients were satisfied or very satisfied with the study filler and 25 (86.2%) would recommend it to others. In this small series of patients, there were no serious adverse events (AEs), with all treatment-related AEs being mild to moderate, transient injection site reactions, unrelated to the study filler.

CONCLUSIONS

Using specific eligibility criteria, individualized treatment goals, and a standardized injection procedure, the study filler corrected aesthetically detracting or deficient features of the Asian nose, with the therapeutic effects lasting for over 12 months, consistent with a high degree of patient satisfaction. This study supports the safety and efficacy of this HA filler for specific nose augmentation procedures in selected Asian patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3: Therapeutic.

Investigation of nasal mobility in Asians and its change after alloplastic augmentation

Augmentation rhinoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries in Asia, and both dorsal augmentation and mobile nose modifications are emphasized for the characters of the Asian nose and for Asians who are fond of the Western nasal shape. The goal in rhinoplasty is to create a balanced and natural appearance. Therefore, the cosmetic aspects, postoperative complications, and functional aspects should be regarded as a whole. In fact, the first 2 aspects had been widely reported in a large number of literatures. However, the functional aspects about mobility have been ignored by most surgeons. A sample method was used in this article to investigate the range of mobility of normal nasal tip in Asians and analyze the correlations of the nasal mobility and alloplastic materials. A total of 170 healthy adult subjects aged from 18 to 35 were included and were classified into 3 groups standing for normal nose and rhinoplasty with L-shaped silicon implants with e-PTFE implants. A 3D raster surface scanner was used to capture the images of the subjects accurately and rapidly in this detailed anatomical study. The range of nasal mobility (to right or left) in Asian normal women was 35.53 ± 4.84 degrees, and the length of mobile part was 16.62 ± 1.94  mm, which accounts for 40% ± 5% of nasal length. The L-shaped alloplastic implants would reduce the nasal mobility, and there had been differences among the changes caused by different implants, which might cause unsatisfactory outcomes in patients. Results of the study indicated that augmentation rhinoplasty should be performed as well as augmented mammaplasty which attaches importance not only to the static and dynamic appearance of the nasal tip but also to the feeling when it is touched.

Milestones of Asian Rhinoplasty

The field of plastic surgery originally developed out of the necessity to reconstruct the human body after the destruction of war. However, injured soldiers were not the only people who desired a change in appearance. After World War II, many people in Asian countries sought to attain a more Western look through surgery. Along with eyes, the nose was the main focus for these cosmetic procedures. In this article, the authors examine the evolution of Asian rhinoplasty from its original description in 1964 to the present. The characteristic anatomical differences between the Western and Asian nose are identified in relation to the technical challenges for rhinoplasty surgeons. Then the benefits and risks of the two major surgical approaches, autograft versus alloplast, are detailed. Finally, the coevolution of techniques and implant usage is traced from a dorsum-only implant, to an L-shaped implant, a cartilaginous cap graft with a one-piece rhinoplasty, an I-shaped implant, and a two-piece augmentation rhinoplasty. Outlining these changes demonstrates the advancement of the field of plastic surgery and the growing expectations of the patient. These advancements have provided the tools necessary to better align a patient's aesthetic goals and their unique anatomical presentation with a specific surgical approach.

Asian Rhinoplasty: Correction of the Short Nose with a Septal Integration Graft

Correction of the short nose is the most challenging part in a rhinoplasty. It is even more difficult in Asians compared with Caucasians due to the thicker skin soft tissue envelope and weaker cartilaginous frameworks. Additionally, most of the Asian patients need augmentation of the nasal dorsum, and projection of the nasal tip at the same time of short nose surgery, which makes short nose correction more complex. Septal extension grafts can effectively and concomitantly correct a short nose. However, the amount of the septal cartilage is not sufficient as a source for the graft often; therefore, the authors devised a septal integration graft in which a septal cartilage graft was fixed to the caudal septum (columellar L-strut) in an end-to-end position to save an amount of the septal cartilage for correction of the short nose. A septal integration graft application resulted in lengthening of the short nose. In addition, the retracted columella and the acute columellar labial angle were improved aesthetically. Therefore, the authors suggest a septal integration graft, a modification of the septal extension graft, for correction of the short nose in an Asian rhinoplasty.

Current update in asian rhinoplasty

Summary:

There has been a tremendous growth of cosmetic surgery among Asians worldwide. Rhinoplasty is second only to blepharoplasty in terms of popularity among Asians regarding cosmetic surgical procedures. Most Asians seek to improve their appearance while maintaining the essential features of their ethnicity. There are considerable ethnic nasal and facial variations in this population alone. Successful rhinoplasty in Asians must take into account underlying anatomic differences between Asians and whites. Due to ethnic variations, cultural differences, and occasional language barriers, careful preoperative counseling is necessary to align the patient’s expectations with the limitations of the procedure. This article will review the many facets of Asian rhinoplasty as it is practiced today.

Rhinoplasty

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Discuss desired preoperative aesthetic and functional assessment of the postsurgical nose with rhinoplasty patients. 2. Identify factors that have the potential to affect procedural outcomes. 3. Develop an operative plan to address aesthetic goals while preserving/improving nasal airway function. 4. Recognize and manage complications following rhinoplasty.

SUMMARY

Rhinoplasty is one of the most commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedures in plastic surgery. Over the past 20 years, the trend has shifted away from ablative techniques involving reduction or division of the osseocartilaginous framework to conserving native anatomy with cartilage-sparing suture techniques and augmentation of deficient areas to correct contour deformities and restore structural support. Accurate preoperative systematic nasal analysis and evaluation of the nasal airway, along with identification of both the patient's expectations and the surgeon's goals, form the foundation for success. Intraoperatively, adequate anatomical exposure of the nasal deformity; preservation and restoration of the normal anatomy; correction of the deformity using incremental control, maintenance, and restoration of the nasal airway; and recognition of the dynamic interplays among the composite of maneuvers are required. During postoperative recovery, care and reassurance combined with an ability to recognize and manage complications lead to successful outcomes following rhinoplasty.