Alar Base Reduction: Nuances and Techniques

Treatment of nasal base deformities is critical for a successful rhinoplasty. Several anatomic variations are seen on nasal base. Alar base deformities can be horizontal excess or deficiency, vertical excess or deficiency, cephalic malposition or caudal malposition of alar base, wide or narrow nostril sills, and columellar base deformities. Columellar base should be addressed before alar base resections. Correction of columellar base deformities and positioning of medial crural footplates should be the primary step of nasal base surgery to attain aesthetic ideals of the columellar base and improve external nasal valve function. The most common deformities requiring alar base modification include wide nasal base, alar flaring, large nostril size, and asymmetries of nostrils or alae. There are 3 basic types of excision on alar base surgery. (1) Alar wedge excision, (2) nostril sill excision, and (3) combined alar wedge and nostril sill excision. The alar wedge excision is an elliptical excision placed in the alar crease that is used to reduce the size and shorten the vertical length of alar lobule and correct the excessive flaring on the frontal view. Nostril sill excision is the technique which is used to decrease interalar distance and nostril sill length, and reduce the size of nostril. The combined alar wedge and nostril sill excision is used in cases with wide alar base and additionally, there is excessive flaring and large alar lobule.

Nostril Surgery: Indications, Surgical Procedures and Outcomes-A Systematic Review of Published Cases

INTRODUCTION

To achieve adequate nasal proportions, nostril surgery can be a complementary technique useful in facial surgery. To help surgeons with the decision to realize nostril surgery, we conducted a systematic review to summarize reported cases on surgical procedures with a specific interest on indications, surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes. A therapeutic algorithm is also proposed.

METHOD

We carried out this review in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. Twenty-two eligible studies were identified using Medical databases, including 1599 patients. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out.

DISCUSSION

Excision techniques were realized on 728 patients (45.5%), followed by cinching sutures on 642 patients (40%) and combined techniques: excision techniques with flap advancement techniques in 189 cases (12%), excision techniques with flap advancement techniques and cinching suture in 40 patients (2.5%). When excessive alar flaring was present, alar wedge resection was preferred in the 92% of followed by alar and sill resection. Cinching sutures were realized when excessive alar flaring was associated with a vertical alar axis, in cases of wide alar base, of associated orthognathic surgery. When excessive alar flaring was associated with wide alar bases, indications changed basing on the associated deformities. In 795 patients, nostril surgery was conducted simultaneously with rhinoplasty.

CONCLUSION

Nostril surgery through excision techniques, cinching sutures or flaps advancement techniques, reveals good outcomes and can be complementary to rhinoplasty or orthognathic surgery. Through this systematic review, we tried to orient surgeons to find the best treatment for nostril base surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

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Alar Base Reduction and Alar-Columellar Relationship

Nasal base modification can improve nostril shape and orientation, reduce alar flaring, improve nasal base width, correct nasal hooding, improve symmetry, and create overall facial harmony. For the correction of alar rim deformities, careful examination, consultation, and analysis and consideration of the condition of the skin are essential. Understanding the ala and surrounding tissue, supporting the lower lateral cartilage, and selecting the proper technique produce functionally and aesthetically good results.

[Nostril surgery]

The decision to perform nasal resection follows a comprehensive analysis of the aesthetic objective depending on the anatomic and artistic criteria. Fear of leaving visible scars leads many surgeons to hesitate vis-à-vis the indications. However, this surgical technique can be very useful during rhinoplasty. The patient should always be informed preoperatively of the possibility of cutaneous resection of the nostrils and the type of scar than can ensue. It is important to know the foreseeable elements of nasal resection in order to provide a more systematic approach to routine rhinoplasty.