Author(s)
Auddie Sweis, MD
Brian Sweis
Kenneth Andrews, MD
Dean M. Toriumi, MD
Affiliation(s)
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
Abstract:
Objectives: (1) To identify the changes in nasal tip projection following primary or secondary rhinoplasty. (2) To compare the long-term effects of three commonly used rhinoplasty techniques on nasal tip projection. Methods: A chart review was performed on patients who underwent one of three commonly used nasal tip projection stabilization techniques between 2009 and 2015. There were 33 patients analyzed: 11 received a columellar strut graft (CS); 11 received a caudal septal extension graft (CSEG); and 11 received a columellar septal replacement graft (CSRG). A single surgeon performed all surgeries. Using preoperative and postoperative photos of each patient, preoperative and postoperative nasal tip projection measurements were collected using 3dMDVultus imaging software. Postoperative measurements were multiple, taken at 6-month intervals, for at least 1 to 5 years postoperatively. Results: In all three subgroups, nasal tip projection changed significantly when comparing the preoperative measurements to the initial postoperative measurements (p<0.01). In all three subgroups, nasal tip projection did not significantly change when comparing early postoperative measurements to later postoperative measurements (p>0.4). Conclusions: Stable maintenance of tip position can be achieved with CS, CSEG, or CSRG placement, and the biggest factor in determining long-term success most likely lies in careful patient selection.