Do spreader grafts make the nose wider?

Spreader grafts are functional grafts to improve or maintain nasal airflow.  This is not strictly a graft used for esthetics but usually the appearance of the nose will improve when used . This is because patients who require spreader grafts will often have a pinched appearance or "inverted v deformity"  over the middle 1/3 of the nose- "cartilagionous vault"  usually related to previous surgery or trauma. Internally this is seen as narrowing of the internal nasal valve.  Improving this deficiency with a spreader graft will create a more natural looking contour of the nasal dorsum as seen from the radix (top of the nose) to the tip.I do not use these grafts in primary rhinoplasty .  In primary rhinoplasty I will preserve more upper lateral cartilage than septal cartilage if removing a large hump.  This upper lateral cartilage can then be turned inwards to maintain normal airway patency and normal nasal esthetics, preventing pinching of the cartilagionous dorsum.

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.