Open and Closed Rhinoplasty

Roughly half a million people a year seek help to change something about their face. A significant amount of those people are interested in changing something about their nose, and rhinoplasty is the name of the procedure involving nose reshaping. It may be changing the look one has had since childhood, undoing damage done during an injury or it may be opening up portions of the nose to allow for better breathing – rhinoplasty can provide it all. When you meet with your surgeon, he or she will recommend one of two types of rhinoplasty procedures: open or closed.

Open Rhinoplasty

The open procedure involves a tiny incision across the patient’s columella – the outer portion of the nose between the nostrils. Opening this area allows the physician access to the nose’s cartilage and bone. After the incision is made, the physician can lift the skin off the end or tip of the nose and shape the cartilage how he or she see sees fit. After healing, a small and sometimes hardly noticeable scar is left on the columella.

Closed Rhinoplasty

Closed rhinoplasty offers the same benefits as open rhinoplasty but minimizes the risk of scarring on the columella. However, the procedure does not allow the same visible freedoms as open rhinoplasty, since the incision is made inside of the nostril as opposed to an exposed nostril.

The physician and patient determine what procedure will work best depending on surgical access, risks of scarring, and other factors.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about open or closed rhinoplasty procedures and which procedure is ideal for you, contact Austin facial cosmetic surgeon Dr. Apostolakis, M.D. at 512-329-8989.