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Will I Have Visible Scars from a Nose Job?

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Scars should not be an issue after rhinoplasty

In closed, or endonasal, rhinoplasty all the incisions are typically made inside the nostrils. No external incisions are made whatsoever, with the uncommon exception of surgeries which include nostril-narrowing procedures such as the Weir excision or sill excision. In open rhinoplasty, a tiny incision is made across the columella, typically in the shape of an upside-down "V" or a stairstep. If this incision is created and repaired carefully, the resultant scar should... more

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Umang Mehta, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Hidden Incisions

Rhinoplasty can be done with no visible scars by placing all incisions inside the nose. This is called "Closed" Rhinoplasty. Ask your surgeon if you are a good candidate.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Visible Scars After A Rhinoplasty

Anytime a scar is created, it will leave a mark. An experienced and well trained rhinoplasty surgeon will do a variety of maneuvers to make the scar less visible. Typically, in an open rhinoplasty, there is an incision between the nostrils in the columella. Scarring around the nostril area (termed the alar base) can also leave scars which can become visible. This incision will usually heal well depending on a variety of factors including: Surgeon... more

Anil R. Shah, MD

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty and scars

There are two types of rhinoplasties: open and closed. In an open approach, there is small incision made on the columella, which is the part of the nose between the nostrils. This heals very well and is virtually undetectable in most cases. A closed rhinoplasty involves no external incisions, with all the incisions located inside the nostrils. The open approach allows for better exposure especially if more intricate work is to be done on the nasal tip or a paient requires a revision. Please... more

William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Rhinoplasty Scars

Scars are scars and are premanent....That having been said, in the hands of an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon, whether OPEN or CLOSED, these scars should melt away and be virtually impossible to detect. This is a great operation for the right patient in the right hands....search carefully, solicit many professional opinions and I am sure you will be very happy! Good Luck Dr. C

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Most rhinoplasties (nose jobs) can be done with either no incision or a very small incision

There are two ways to approach the nose when performing a rhinoplasty (nose job). The first is the closed rhinoplasty. In this surgery, the surgeon approaches the anatomy through the inside of the nostrils. There are incisions, but they are all inside of your nose (kind of like doing the surgery from the inside-out). This apprach is best for straight-forward noses which do not need extensive work. The other approach is called the open rhinoplasty. In this apporach, a small incision in... more

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rhinoplasty Is A Scarless Procedure

`For the most part, rhinoplasty does not involve any visible scars and that concern is not usually an important one. It is true that in an open rhinoplasty an incision is used across the strip of skin between the nostrils. (columella) But incision almost always heals so well that a resulting visible scar or the need for scar revision of it is very uncommon.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rhinoplasty Incisions Usually Hidden Inside the Nose

There are basically two approaches to accessing the nasal structures when performing a rhinoplasty. One is called "closed" and the other "open". Truth is, they are both open, the question is where the opening is made. In a "closed" approach, all of the incisions are inside of the nose leaving the patient with no visible scars. In contrast, the "open" approach includes an incision across the skin between the nostrils... more

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Louis W. Apostolakis, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Scars

Rhinoplasty can be performed by the 'closed' technique, in which all incisions are placed within the nostril, or the 'open' approach, in which an incision is also placed on the columella, the skin between the nostrils. This incision is external but heals extremely well and is almost imperceptible. Occasionally, osteotomies to cut the bones and narrow the nose are performed through external incisions on the side of the nose. These are 2 mm and also heal... more

Jeffrey Weinzweig, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

The technique determines the placement of incisions

If the surgeon needs to make a small incision under your nose you will have a small scar. This scar is usually not too visible. If the surgeon uses a technique where all incisions are placed in the nose, no external scar will be visible. Which technique used depends on the type of changes needed.

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Robert Mounsey, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Are scars visible after Rhinoplasty?

Sometimes Rhinoplasty is done using a small incision under the nose. It heals leaving an almost invisible line. Less commonly 2mm incisions are made at the side of the nasal bridge to help narrow it. These too heal very well.

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Oakley Smith, MD

Toronto Facial Plastic Surgeon

Avoiding scars in rhinoplasty

There are two primary access approaches in rhinoplasty. The so called "closed" method where all the incisions are on the inside of the nose, therefore no visible scar; and "open " approach where there is an incision across the columella. This incision typically heals well, but on occasion in can leave somewhat noticeable scar. In my practice I perform primarily closed/endonasal rhinoplasty. I believe this approach allows for a more finessed... more

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Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Rhinoplasty / Nose job incision scar

Essentially not. Even with the external approach, this incision typically heals as a fine line scar.

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Jeffrey S. Epstein, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

The "Closed Approach"

For many years, the traditional approach to nasal surgery has involved only internal nasal incisions. This type of approach is considered an “endonasal” or “closed” approach. This is still the most commonly used technique, so that visible scars from nasal surgery are uncommon. Occasionally, an “open” approach is more appropriate- for complicated refinements of the nasal tip, post traumatic nasal surgery, or revision nasal surgery. This involves a very... more

Michael R. Macdonald, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty can be performed with imperceptible scars

Rhinoplasty can be performed with imperceptible scars. If one uses an endonasal/closed approach, then all the scars will be on the inside of the nose unless the nostrils require reduction. An open approach uses a small external incision on the underside of the nose in addition to internal incisions, however, if performed well, the scar is imperceptible in most cases.

Sanjay Grover MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Scarring after a rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a popular and effective surgery to recontour the shape of your nose. Today, there are two main techniques for rhinoplasty surgery: the open technique and the closed technique. The open technique is when the surgeon lift the skin off your nose to work on the deeper structures. This will produce a scar on the inner surface of your nostrils that is not possible to see from the outside. You also have a small scar in the columella which is the portion of your nose between your two... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Nose job Scarring

If you undergo a 'closed' rhinoplasty procedure, there should be no visible scarring since all of the incisions are made inside of the nose. With an 'open' rhinoplasty approach, I will make an inverted V shaped incision between the nostrils to access the tip and bridge. This scar typically heals very nicely without any obvious signs of having an incision. Initially, the scar may look slightly raised off the surface of the skin (what we call everted). This is done intentionally to account for... more

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John M. Hilinski, MD

San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Visible Scars after Rhinoplasty

With a closed rhinoplasty, all incisions are made wthin the nose. Many surgeons,including myself, feel there is a distinct advantage to the open, or external approach, in certain certain noses such as revision rhinoplasties because in their hands there is improved exposure of the anatomy and the results are more predictable. With this technique the skin incision made between the nostrils heals very well; in 35 years, I've revised this incision twice.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty scar

There are two types of incisions for rhinoplasties: open and closed. In an open approach, there is small incision made on the columella, which is the part of the nose between the nostrils. This heals very well and thus is virtually undetectable in most cases. A closed rhinoplasty involves no external incisions, with all the incisions located inside the nostrils. The open approach allows for better exposure especially if more intricate work is to be done on the nasal tip. Best wishes. more

Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Does rhinoplasty leave a visible scar?

A well performed rhinoplasty should not leave a visible scar. Even though, an open approach to the rhinoplasty requires an incision in the columella skin (between the nostrils), the scar is typically not visible. The same can be said about narrowing of the nostrils. Please view the photographs in this link to see the results of surgery where the columella and the nostrils were cut.

Maurice M. Khosh, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Nasal scars after rhinoplasty

Most nose surgery is done with the incisions inside. When a patient needs an open approach, the incision is done on the columella (the area between the nostrils). This incision usually fades over a period of a few weeks. If the nostrils need to be narrowed another incision may be done on the side of the nostril and inside the nostrils. These usually fade as well.

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Carlos Wolf, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

At most, a few millimeter scar between the nostrils

External or open rhinoplasty will require placement of an incision between the nostrils. But because that skin is so thin and deilcate, if sutured carefully, the scar should heal to the point it is nearly invisible within a few months. With closed or endonasal rhinoplasty there is no visible scars.

David W. Kim, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty scars

Rhinoplasty can be performed with two approaches. One is the endonasal or "closed " approach, where all of the incisions are hidden inside the nose. The other approach is the "open" approach, where there is a small hidden incision in the columella. This incision heals very well and should not be a concern. One approach is not better than the other. The best approach for you is the one your surgeon is most comfortable with so that you may have the best result possible in... more

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Andres Bustillo, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

There should be no visible scars from a nose job

There should be no visible scars from a nose job, because the all incisions should be made on the inside of the nose. I strongly advise that you avoid doctors who do open rhinoplasties, becasue making an external cut is positively unnecessary and always leaves some type of a scar. I also believe that inferioor results are acheived when an open rhinoplasty is performed. For an experienced plastic surgeon, all the nasal structures can be visualized and operated upon completely and accurately... more

Howard T. Bellin, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Open vs closed rhinoplasty pearls

Most tip work is done with the open Rhinoplasty technique and most noses that require only bridge work are done with the closed technique. These are just guidelines and not absolutes but your surgeon will have his preferences and should discuss them with you.