Nasal alar reduction involves excising mucosal tissue from both sides of the alae before suturing. Incisions are made along the inner edge of the alae, resulting in minimal scarring. As the alae shrink, the nasal profile immediately achieves harmony and refinement, imparting a distinctly defined bone structure to the nose.The incision for alar reduction is positioned within the alar groove and the inner aspect of the free edge of the alar base. This provides excellent surgical exposure and facilitates manipulation. However, due to the prominent position of the nose on the face, even minor imperfections in the alar region become noticeable after surgery, such as asymmetry in the alar base or nostrils, or an uncoordinated postoperative curve of the alar groove and lower alar margin.
Nasal Wing Reduction Technique 1
1. For patients with both wide nasal wings and large nostrils, a cautious approach involves partial excision of the nasal wing base combined with nostril reduction. The incision is designed at the nasal wing base and lower nasal wing groove. Under local anesthesia, a portion of the full-thickness tissue at the nasal wing base is appropriately excised. The tissue is then rotated inward and advanced to reduce the nostril size, followed by layered interrupted suturing.Postoperative scar length typically does not exceed 1 cm.
2. For patients with a wide alar rim, partial excision of the free edge of the alar cartilage may be performed. After reshaping, the incision is sutured to the inner surface of the alar cartilage.
3. For cases with small nostrils, excessively thick alae, or overly full upper alar folds, a skin incision is made along the anterior border of the lateral crus of the alar cartilage. The skin is dissected from the underlying alar cartilage. Excess soft tissue covering the cartilage surface is excised, followed by partial resection of the upper and lateral portions of the alar cartilage.Then, within the nostril, excise a rhombic-shaped vestibular skin and mucosal flap from the medial aspect of the alar base. Remove excess fatty tissue. Finally, suture the incision at the nostril margin and the incision on the medial aspect of the alar base. Postoperative scar length from alar reduction surgery typically does not exceed 1 cm.
Nasal Wing Reduction Technique 2
1. When the nasal wings are not excessively wide, inserting an auxiliary column into the columella and performing cartilage grafting on the nasal tip can elevate the tip and reduce the width of the wings without requiring additional procedures. Therefore, the need for nasal wing reduction must be evaluated and determined after the tip-elevation surgery.
2. Alarplasty is primarily suitable for individuals of Asian or African descent with excessively wide nasal bases or large nostrils. Most cases of wide alae result from excess skin. Resection of the lower alar skin followed by suturing reduces the alar width, potentially elongating the appearance of the nostrils. The incision is placed along the alar-cheek junction, yielding a highly inconspicuous scar.
Expert advice: If you are considering alar reduction surgery, please seek treatment at a reputable medical aesthetic hospital to ensure optimal results.