Do spreader grafts make the nose wider?

Question

I heard that spreader grafts can make the nose appearance wider. Is this true? With dorsal hump removal, I still like the width of my nose..Can that still be maintained?

Michael A. Persky, MD · Answer

Hi Rosalie,Spreader grafts may or may not widen the mid third of the nose depending on the width of the spreader graft and the goal of the surgeon.  Make sure to choose your rhinoplasty surgeon most carefully.  Good luck and be well.Dr. P

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Spreader grafts do not make nose wider unless that is what the surgeon wants to do many noses are too narrow in the mid nose.

Richard J. Brown, MD · Answer

I do agree with my colleagues on this one. Typically the
grafts are hidden and not wide enough to cause external widening of the nose. That being said, if they are thick enough combined with a thin skinned patients, you certainly can see subtle widening of the middle vault of the nose. But, in
general they do not cause widening externally.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Spreader grafts do increase the width of the middle vault and can help make for a smoother dorsal line. How much they increase the width of the middle vault can be negligible to significant based on the width of the cartilage grafts placed.

George Sanders, MD · Answer

Spreader grafts can be positioned so as not to increase the nasal width, but in that position they may not improve the airway as much as you require. Speak with your rhinoplasty surgeon about whether your desired spreader graft position will give you what you need in airway improvement without nasal widening.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Spreader grafts or placed in the midportion of the nose on either one or both slides,depending upon the presenting issues. When the nose is concave on one side, a spreader graft is placed to straighten it. When patient's have an hourglass deformity in the upper lateral cartilages are concave on both sides,  spreader grafts are placed underneath both upper lateral cartilages. Depending upon the thickness of the grafts, they can make the nose more full, or wider. For more information, diagrams and many examples of spreader graft placement, please see the link and the video below

John B. Lazor, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Spreader grafts are placed to preserve the integrity of the airway. They are placed between the septum and the upper lateral cartilages which correspond to the middle 1/3 of the nose. They may vary in size but one should expect some subtle change/widening in this atea

Karthik Ram, MRCS, DNB · Answer

Spreader grafts is used to reconstruct the mid dorsum or the middle portion ot the nasal bridge.the junction of upper lateral cartilage and the dorsal septum forms an angle called internal nasalvalve which when narrowed ,by spreader graft placement opens the internal nasal valve.and technically widens the middle nasal vault.and restores a more pleasing brow tip aesthetic line.

Theodore Nyame, MD · Answer

After a significant dorsal hump reduction the dorsum may be wide with or without spreader grafts. Osteotomies at the base of the bony pyramid can be useful in reducing the width of the hump. A qualified plastic surgeon should be able to explain all of these options further. Thank you for your questionTheodore T. Nyame

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

Spreader grafts do not make you nose wider; remember that they are placed after resection of the upper laterals and dorsal septum which narrows your mid vault; the spreader graft is intended to widen your nose internall, opening up the internal nasal vavle.

Do spreader grafts make the nose wider?

Answers (18)

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