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What Are the Benefits of Open Vs. Closed Rhinoplasty?

The purpose of rhinoplasty, a nose job, is to enhance the appearance of the nose by changing its size and/or shape. Other reasons for this procedure, according to Docshop.com, are to change the tip, alter the angle between the nose and the upper lip and to narrow the nostrils. According to the Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics website, there are two ways to get this procedure done, either open or closed.

  1. Features of Open Rhinoplasty

    • The benefit of open rhinoplasty is that the surgeon will have more access to the cartilage and nose bone, according to Docshop.com. In an open procedure, the surgeon makes a cut in the columella, the strip that separates the nostrils. This gives the doctor the ability to lift the skin off the tip of the nose and to precisely reshape the cartilage.

    Considerations of Open Rhinoplasty

    • Open rhinoplasty is likely to cause visible scarring where the doctor made the cut between the nostrils. For more complicated cases, surgeons prefer open rhinoplasty, according to the Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Statistics website. In addition, more swelling will occur with open rhinoplasty.

    Features of Closed Rhinoplasty

    • Closed rhinoplasty is the more traditional type of surgery, according to Docshop.com. The benefit of the closed procedure is that there will be no visible scarring. Incisions are made inside the nose. This method does not allow as much freedom to the surgeon, according to Docshop.com; however, there will still be plenty of reshaping possibilities.

    Similarities

    • Because the difference in open and closed rhinoplasty is in where the doctor makes the cuts, preparation for the surgery is the same for both, according to Docshop.com. Both procedures usually entail general sedation. Some doctors may recommend only a local anesthetic. The healing process will take the same amount of time for open or closed rhinoplasty, according to Docshop.com.

    Expert Insight

    • Your surgeon should determine which type of rhinoplasty is right for you. According to Docshop.com, your doctor will make the decision on whether he or she thinks there will be enough access to the cartilage or bone without having to make the cut along the columella and whether the outside cut will be worth the small scar it will leave.

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