Current Practices in Dorsal Augmentation Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty addresses the aesthetic and functional impairments caused by a deficient nasal dorsum. Augmentation rhinoplasty can be performed using a variety of different surgical techniques and grafting materials that all have distinct advantages and disadvantages. METHODS: Grafting materials have unique characteristics, uses, and safety profiles. A detailed overview of various grafting materials and their uses, risks, and benefits is provided. RESULTS: Autologous grafting materials include septal cartilage, auricular cartilage, and costal cartilage. These donor sites can provide various amounts of en bloc or diced cartilage. Alternatively, bone may be used when strong structural stability is required, and soft tissue may be used to fill mild to moderate defects. Homologous grafts (e.g., irradiated and nonirradiated rib) and acellular dermal matrices are alternatives to autologous graft with many similar advantages and no need for an additional surgical site. Lastly, alloplastic implants may be successfully used for dorsal augmentation if both patient and surgeon understand their associated risks. CONCLUSION: To perform successful dorsal augmentation, surgeons should be familiar with the wide variety of operative approaches and augmentation materials that are currently available and understand their risks, benefits, and uses.

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.

Rhinosurgery during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic: International Consensus Conference Statement on Preliminary Perioperative Safety Measures.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has widely affected rhinosurgery, given the high risk of contagion and the elective nature of the aesthetic procedure, generating many questions on how to ensure safety. The Science and Research Committee of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe aimed at preparing consensus recommendations on safe rhinosurgery in general during the COVID-19 pandemic by appointing an international panel of experts also including delegates of The Rhinoplasty Society. METHODS: A Zoom meeting was performed with a panel of 14 international leading experts in rhinosurgery. During 3.5 hours, four categories of questions on preoperative safety measures in private practice and outpatient clinics, patient assessment before and during surgery, and legal issues were presented by four chairs and discussed by the expert group. Afterward, the panelists were requested to express an online, electronic vote on each category and question. The panel's recommendations were based on current evidence and expert opinions. The resulting report was circulated in an iterative open e-mail process until consensus was obtained. RESULTS: Consensus was obtained in several important points on how to safely restart performing rhinosurgery in general. Preliminary recommendations with different levels of agreement were prepared and condensed in a bundle of safety measures. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the panel's recommendations may improve safety of rhinoplasty by avoiding operating on nondetected COVID-19 patients and minimizing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus spread in outpatient clinics and operating rooms.

Nasal Tip Deficiency.

Nasal tip deficiency can be congenital or secondary to previous nasal surgeries. Underdeveloped medial crura usually present with underprojected tip and lack of tip definition. Weakness or malposition of lateral crura causes alar rim retraction and lateral nasal wall weakness. Structural grafting of alar cartilages strengthens the tip framework, reinforces the disrupted support mechanisms, and controls the position of the nasal tip. In secondary cases, anatomic reconstruction of the weakened or interrupted alar cartilages and reconstitution of a stable nasal tip tripod must be the goal for a predictable outcome.

Diced Cartilage Grafts Wrapped in Rectus Abdominis Fascia for Nasal Dorsum Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Dorsum augmentation is one of the most delicate components of rhinoplasty. Although various solid grafts have been used in the past for this purpose, diced cartilage grafts wrapped in fascia have become popular in recent decades. In this study, the authors analyze and discuss the results of using diced cartilage grafts wrapped in rectus abdominis muscle fascia for dorsal augmentation. METHODS: Nasal dorsum augmentation using the diced cartilage wrapped in rectus abdominis fascia technique was performed on 109 patients between 2008 and 2014. Six patients were primary cases, 69 patients were secondary, and 18 were tertiary. Sixteen patients had previously undergone more than three operations. In all patients, the rectus abdominis fascia was harvested with the described technique and wrapped around the diced cartilages obtained from the costal cartilage. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 19.6 months (range, 6 to 47 months). Satisfactory results were obtained with acceptable complications and revision rates. Three patients underwent reoperation because of overcorrection. Insufficient augmentation was seen in five patients. In four patients, infection developed after postoperative day 5. One patient complained of a hypertrophic scar on the donor site. None of the patients showed any symptoms indicating an abdominal hernia. CONCLUSIONS: Techniques using diced cartilage grafts wrapped in fascia have now become the gold standard for dorsal augmentations. When it is considered that secondary cases requiring dorsal augmentation are usually those also needing costal cartilage grafts, rectus abdominis fascia becomes a useful carrier for diced cartilages, which is in the same donor area. CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, IV.

Concurrent elevation of the upper lateral cartilage perichondrium and nasal bone periosteum for management of dorsum: the perichondro-periosteal flap.

A meticulous nasal dorsal dissection is an indispensable tool for a successful rhinoplasty. To achieve an aesthetically pleasing dorsum, fine dissection of the upper lateral cartilages (ULC), nasal bones, and keystone area is crucial. In this Featured Operative Technique article, the author describes a different concept of nasal dorsal skeletonization: the perichondro-periosteal flap technique. This technique has several advantages in restoring the nasal dorsum after hump reduction. Namely, the preparation and protection of the perichondrium and the periosteum of the nasal dorsum as a single entity allows a healthier, separate-layer closure over the osseocartilaginous dorsum.

The crooked nose: principles of treatment.

Correction of the crooked nose is one of the most challenging procedures in rhinoplasty. The goals of the surgery are creation of a rigid and straight cartilaginous L-strut, correction of the deviated bony structures, and improvement of the nasal airway. Curvatures of the dorsal septum can be corrected with several techniques. Spreader grafts, cartilage batten grafts, or ethmoid bone grafts can be utilized for internal stenting to straighten the dorsal deviations. The surgical treatment for a deformed caudal septum with the most predictable and successful outcome is resection and replacement with a straight septal cartilage graft. In severe deviations of septum cartilage involving both dorsal and caudal portions of the L-strut, extracorporeal reconstruction of the septal cartilage may be the required method. For correction of the deviated bony pyramid, several osteotomy methods can be employed. Medial osteotomy, low-to-low or low-to -high internal lateral osteotomy, double-level lateral osteotomies, and external lateral osteotomy are the options, depending on the deformity. Dorsal onlay grafts can provide camouflage for any residual asymmetries after septal reconstruction or can be applied for dorsal augmentation.