The Need for Innovation in Rhinoplasty.

Rhinoplasty is a challenging surgery and results are not always perfect. There are many obstacles to achieving optimal results. Among these are inadequate instrumentation, the unpredictability of healing, imprecise planning, and many more. Furthermore, selecting patients who can most benefit from surgery is equally important. In this article, some of the more pressing areas of rhinoplasty that need innovation are discussed. From proper patient selection, to advances in education, to the standardization of training programs, to the development of sophisticated implants, the future of rhinoplasty surgery lies in continued creativity and innovation.

Lower Lateral Cartilages: An Anatomic and Morphological Study in Noses of Black Southern Africans.

Background: The anatomy of the nose of different ethnic groups has been widely researched in order to facilitate a better understanding of the individual nose as a foundation for improving surgical outcomes. The only anatomical research of the lower lateral cartilages (LLCs) available to the surgeon working with an African patient is to extrapolate data from studies already published on African Americans. Objectives: The aim of this descriptive cadaveric study was to assess the normal anatomy of the LLCs in noses of Black South Africans and compare this to data from studies on noses from Caucasian, Asian, Korean, and African-American populations. Methods: Ninety lower lateral cartilages of 45 cadavers of Black South Africans who did not have previous surgery or trauma to the nose were dissected. The morphological shapes and 12 standard anatomical measurements were recorded. The results were analyzed and compared to data in the literature from studies on lower lateral cartilages of Caucasian, Asian, Korean, and African-American populations. Results: A statistically significant difference was found in terms of overall cartilage dimensions, distance from nasal rim, and morphological shapes, compared to all previously studied groups, including the African-American population. There were significant differences in cartilage dimensions between males and females. This translates to clinically significant data that is useful during reconstructive and aesthetic nasal surgery on patients with a Southern African background. Conclusions: This study sets norms for alar cartilages in Black Southern Africans.