Rhinoplasty Technique for Improving Nasal Base Aesthetics: Lateral Columellar Grafting.

[BACKGROUND] One of the most important factors in nasal base aesthetics is symmetry. In the age of social media, the expectations of rhinoplasty patients and the rate of requests for a more symmetrical nose have increased. In this article, a lateral columellar grafting technique that can be applied to augment the more defective side of the columella and obtain a more symmetrical nasal base is presented.

[METHODS] A total of 86 patients (women, 79; men, 7) were included in this study. The surfaces of the right and left lateral margins of the columella were evaluated from the basal view at the final stage of surgery, and a lateral columellar graft was placed on the more defective side. All patients who were included in the study were assessed with the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation questionnaire before and 1 year after surgery.

[RESULTS] The median age of the patients was 28.3 years (range, 18-56 years). Eighty-two patients were primary rhinoplasty patients, and 4 patients were secondary rhinoplasty patients. The median Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation score was 68.3 points before surgery and 92.3 points 1 year after surgery, showing a significant increase ( P = 0.003). Patient satisfaction was found to be excellent in 93% of the included patients.

[CONCLUSIONS] Using the lateral columellar grafting technique, greater symmetry of the columella and nostrils can be obtained by augmenting the more defective side of the lateral columellar surface.