Is alarplasty semi-permanent?

Question

I was under the impression that alarplasty is a permanent procedure, but someone who had it done told me it’s actually semi-permanent. She said the skin can slowly stretch over time post op because the muscles around the nostril base are used a lot, and that this is what her doctor told her. That explanation sounded a bit off to me and I haven’t been able to find anything online that really supports it, but I just wanted to be sure.

Mark Beaty, MD · Answer

Alarplasty is considered a permanent procedure. The changes made to the nostril base involve removing and reshaping tissue, which does not “grow back” over time. While it’s true that the face naturally changes with aging, and factors like weight fluctuations can subtly affect soft tissue, significant widening of the nostrils after alarplasty is uncommon. When performed with proper technique, alarplasty results are stable and long-lasting.

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

Alarplasty is permanent in most cases but in some cases it can stretch over time with age. However this is not the norm. I have seen it after pregnancy in a patient. Very few of my patients over the last 20 years have seen a widening.
Regards
Dr. Janjua

Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS · Answer

The results of alarplasty are permanent, but the key thing to remember is that the final result can take 6-12 months to appear after surgery. Prior to full healing, the appearance of the ala and nostrils can still be affected by residual swelling and temporary effects on the movement of the muscles in the area.

Is alarplasty semi-permanent?

Answers (3)

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