Most Common Rhinoplasty Techniques

Rhinoplasty, also known as a nose surgery, is a procedure that involves enhancing the appearance of the nose as well as the function: it can improve your breathing and correct any problems associated with a deviated septum.

But what many people don’t know is that there are so many different rhinoplasty techniques, and that it’s really important to know what each one has to offer, their limitations and risks. It is key to take into account your nose, your facial features and what you want, without having unrealistic expectations. Choosing the type of rhinoplasty is quite a dilemma – how do you know what would work best for you? Today, I am going to explain different rhinoplasty techniques and the benefits associated with those.

Structural rhinoplasty

What is the difference between structural and excisional rhinoplasty? 

Excisional rhinoplasty involves removal of a substantial amount of bone or cartilage from the nose and is mostly done as closed rhinoplasty. However, the downside is that there is a greater risk of an undesirable outcome as this technique may weaken your nose. Structural rhinoplasty, on the other hand, is more nuanced: in addition to removing excessive tissue, it also replaces, reshapes and reinforces the nose where it is needed. It is mostly commonly done as an open rhinoplasty but there are exceptions.Both closed and open approaches allow reshaping of the nasal tip cartilage, with or without cartilage grafting, to achieve a desired contour of the nose. However, more complex work is best done with better exposure and visualisation of the anatomy during an open approach.

An important thing to keep in mind about structural rhinoplasty is that it should be done by a specialist surgeon that is experienced in rhinoplasty and does it consistently. So, make sure to check your surgeon’s qualifications.

Preservation rhinoplasty

Preservation rhinoplasty is another popular rhinoplasty technique. The main aspect that distinguishes this technique is that it focuses on preserving tissues and ligaments such as the natural dorsum of a patient’s nose. Your surgeon will only remove tissue from other areas to allow reposition and reshaping of the nose.

Preservation rhinoplasty is recommended for those patients who present with less severe problems and never had significant trauma or previous rhinoplasty surgery. In terms of results, it is a choice for patients that want to improve the appearance of their nose, yet still wish to preserve its natural aesthetics. Preservation rhinoplasty is suited best for anyone who doesn’t require complex reshaping of their tip cartilage.

Functional rhinoplasty

Functional rhinoplasty is a term that describes the type of rhinoplasty aimed to improve the function of the nose, particularly to enhance the patient’s breathing. Functional rhinoplasty is a great choice for those who experience difficulty breathing due to having a severely blocked nose, a deviated septum, or any other complications that impede their ability to breathe freely.

Thread lift vs nose fillers

While rhinoplasty is a popular procedure in Australia and all over the world, there are non-surgical rhinoplasty alternatives available. Some of the most common non-surgical treatments are thread lift and nose fillers.

Nose thread lift is a procedure that involves the insertion of fine threads under the skin to lift up the nose bridge and the tip. The threads used for this procedure are polydioxanone (PDO) threads which can be naturally absorbed by our bodies. If you choose to try nose fillers instead, your surgeon will inject hyaluronic acid fillers into the skin.

Both procedures are very quick and require minimal downtime after. Usually, if you want to achieve a more refined contour and definition of your nose, then thread lift could be an ideal option for you. Nose filler injections are more suitable for those patients who want to lift the tip of their nose, or who are unhappy with their flat nose bridge and wish to add more volume.

It is important to know that neither thread lift nor fillers will reduce the size of your nose or part of it. The aesthetic improvement is achieved by lifting or adding volume. Also, results are short lasting and can be inconsistent, some are good and some are not. If the results are not good, it may make it more difficult for surgical correction afterwards. There may be more scar tissue and the tissues may be stretched. It can also increase the risk of complications.

There have been cases of skin necrosis (skin loss) that leave very unsightly scars and deformities. Blindness (rare complication) has also been reported due to filler being injected into blood vessels that can migrate and block the blood supply to the eye. Similarly, it can cause strokes (very rare) if the filler travels to the brain.

I hope that this mini-guide is useful and gives you a better idea about different rhinoplasty techniques and which type of rhinoplasty may be the best fit for you. Have more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to me, and book an appointment.

I am a Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon in Melbourne, and I am interested in Aesthetic Surgery, Rhinoplasty and Facial Surgery.

I always take time to assess every individual case, so that I can discuss options with my patients. I believe that it’s important to ensure that the facial harmony and identity of every patient is respected, and that I am able to help them achieve natural and beautiful results they desire.

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