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Alarplasty / Nasal Base Surgery
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Introduction
Every year, half a million people who are interested in improving the appearance of their noses seek consultation with facial plastic surgeons. Some are unhappy with the noses they were born with, and some with the way aging has changed their nose. For others, an injury may have distorted the nose, or the goal may be improved breathing. But one thing is clear: nothing has a greater impact on how a person looks than the size and shape of the nose. Because the nose is the most defining characteristic of the face, a slight alteration can greatly improve one's appearance.
Alarplasty is a cosmetic procedure which refers to cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of the nostrils or nasal base.
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Alarplasty Overview
| GOALS | Improve nasal appearance (size, shape, symmetry, proportion, balance) of the nostrils and/or nasal base. Reduce nasal base width. Reduce nostril flare. |
| PROCEDURE | Alarplasty / Nasal Base Surgery |
| ANESTHESIA | Local anesthesia |
| LENGTH | under 1 hour |
| AFTER PROCEDURE | Minor bruising and/or swelling which resolves within a few days. Sutures are removed in 7-14 days. |
| RECOVERY | Resume normal activities immediately. Return to work within a week. Resume full exertion within 2-3 weeks. |
Dr. Pearson's practice offers Alarplasty in addition to cosmetic, functional and reconstructive rhinoplasty.
Alarplasty, also called 'nasal base surgery', refers to cosmetic surgery to improve the appearance of the nostrils or nasal base.
What may be considered appropriate nasal base varies with one's ethnicity, but is generally as wide as the width of the eye or the area between the eyes and comprises about one-fifth of the facial width/ A wider nasal base may draw attention to itself and detract from apparent facial balance or distract from surrounding facial features.
The shape of the base of the nose, when viewed from below, is generally triaglar in shape. The shape of the outer nostril wall (nasal ala) ideally displays a gentle convexity between the nasal tip and where it meets with the face (alar crease). When the shape of the nasal ala demonstrates an accentuated convexity, this may detract from nasal or facial balance.
Cosmetic Rhinoplasty is performed to improve the appearance of the nose. Although popular opinion does not consider the nose to be central to facial beauty, the nose's central facial location makes facial beauty elusive without nasal harmony with surrounding facial features. To that end, the goal of cosmetic rhinoplasty is to create a nose which is in balance with the rest of the face.
Cosmetic rhinoplasty may include the removal of a dorsal hump, refinement of the nasal tip, straightening or narrowing of a deviated or widened nose, modification of nasal proportions, as well as countless subtle nasal refinements. A beautiful nose has less to do with subjective preference than with symmetry, proportion and balance. When a nose is in harmony with surrounding facial features, attention is directed away from it and towards the eyes.
Functional Rhinoplasty involves improvement of nasal breathing problems. Functional rhinoplasty may include straightening a deviated nasal septum (septoplasty), turbinate surgery to reposition or reduce the size of the nasal turbinates (turbinoplasty) and surgical repair of incompetent nasal valves. Functional rhinoplasty may be covered partly or entirely by medical insurance.
Reconstructive Rhinoplasty entails surgical treatment of a nasal injury in an effort to bring the nose back to its pre-injury state. If the nasal injury is very recent (within days), it may be possible to correct or improve nasal deviation without surgery. Reconstructive rhinoplasty may be covered partly or entirely by medical insurance.
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Why Should You Choose Dr. Pearson to Perform Your Rhinoplasty?
In the field of plastic surgery, rhinoplasty is regarded as the most technically challenging of all operations. Whether rhinoplasty is sought for cosmetic, functional or reconstructive reasons, your choice of a qualified facial plastic surgeon is of paramount importance. Dr. Pearson is trained in both facial plastic surgery, and ear, nose, throat surgery, which provides you as the patient with the highest level of training and expertise. Furthermore, Dr. Pearson is an expert in the field and has written numerous surgical book chapters and articles covering various aspects of this complex operation.
Which Nasal Attributes Can Rhinoplasty Change or Improve?
Rhinoplasty can change:
- Nasal asymmetry and deviation
- Nose size, in relation to the other facial structures
- Nose width, at the bridge
- Nose profile, with visible humps or depressions on the bridge
- Nasal tip, that is large or bulbous, drooping, or too upturned
- Nostrils that are large, wide or upturned
Candidates for Rhinoplasty Surgery
Some of the indications that you may be a good candidate for rhinoplasty:
- Your nose is off-center or crooked
- Previous injury has made your nose asymmetrical
- Your nose appears too large for your face
- There is a bump on the nasal bridge when viewed in profile
- Your nose seems too wide when viewed from the front
- The nasal tip droops or plunges
- The tip is thickened or enlarged
- Your nostrils are excessively flared
You may be a candidate for Cosmetic Rhinoplasty if you are dissatisfied with the appearance of the size or shape of the nose. If you experience breathing difficulty and the structure of the nose is determined to contribute to this problem, you may be a candidate for Functional Rhinoplasty. If you have recently sustained an injury to your nose which has affected its appearance, you may be a candidate for Reconstructive Rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty Surgery
The nose is a complex three-dimensional structure composed of multiple tissue types including bone, cartilage, skin, mucosa, and muscle. Rhinoplasty entails making surgical changes to the nasal tissues in order to affect the size, shape, and/or function of the nose. In many cases, the goals of rhinoplasty are neither entirely cosmetic, functional or reconstructive but some combination of these.
Possible Non-Surgical Alternative Treatments
For subtle improvements, non invasive methods may be considered to improve the appearance of the nose. For those who do not wish to consider surgery, injectable fillers may be employed by Dr. Pearson to improve nasal appearance. Call us for a consultation to learn if you may be a candidate for a non-surgical nasal treatment.
Recovery after Rhinoplasty Surgery
Following rhinoplasty, you can expect a few days of swelling and soreness which is well controlled with oral pain medications. Any nasal packing is removed after 1 day. Any external nasal sutures are removed after a few days. Internal and external nasal splints are typically removed after 7 days. By then, much of the nasal swelling is resolved and nasal breathing is improving. The nasal bones heal over several weeks. You can resume most normal activities after a couple of days, except for intense exercise, which may be resumed at about 3 weeks. Most people are able to return to work in 7-10 days. Contact sports should be avoided for at least 6 weeks.
Rhinoplasty Publications by Dr. Pearson |
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Dr. Pearson is a Rhinoplasty specialist and a published author who has written numerous articles and plastic surgery textbook chapters on this topic. Learn more here.
- Quatela VC, Pearson JM. Management of the Aging Nose. Rhinoplasty The Experts' Reference. Ed. Sclafani, AP. Thieme. 2015.
- Quatela VC, Pearson JM. The Underprojected Nose / Ptotic Tip. Master Techniques in Rhinoplasty and Nasal Reconstruction. Ed. Azizzadeh B, et al. Philadelphia, Elsevier. 2011
- Sclafani AP, Pearson JM. Nasal Grafts & Implants. Advanced Therapy in Facial and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Ed. Thomas JR. PMPH-USA, Ltd. 2010
- Quatela VC, Pearson JM. Management of the Aging Nose. Facial Plast Surg. 2009 Oct;25(4):215-221.
- Romo T 3rd, Pearson JM. Nasal implants. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. 2008 Feb;16(1):123-32
- Romo III T, Patel A, Pearson JM. Local Mucosal Flaps for Closure of Septal Perforations. Grabb’s Encyclopedia of Flaps, Volume I: Head and Neck, 3rd Edition. Eds. Strauch B, et al. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009. 221-224.
- Romo T 3rd, Pearson JM, Lin HS, Patel A, Presti P, Abraham MT, Yalamanchili H. Rhinoplasty, Postrhinoplasty Nasal Obstruction. e-medicine article. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/841574-overview. October 12, 2007.
- Romo T 3rd, Yalamanchili H, Presti P, Pearson JM. Septal Perforation: Surgical Aspects. e-medicine article. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/878817-overview. July 24, 2007.
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Why Dr. Pearson ? |
Frequently Asked Questions |
Contact Us |
