What is alarplasty? Is there such a thing as "Ethnic Alarplasty"

Question

Can alarplasty give good results for a round and bulbous African American nose with a bulbous tip? I don't see much info about "ethnic alarplasty" Also is alarplasty a good "in the mean time" surgery if I am planning on having a rhinoplasty in about 3 years? Or will that just complicate my rhinoplasty? I would upload my pics in order for you to see if I'm a candidate but the site isn't letting me =\ thanks!

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Alarplasty can include an alar base reduction where a wide nasal base is narrowed or alar flare reduction where wide nostrils are narrowed.  It doesn't directly address a bulbous tip which is managed with different techniques.  I don't recommend doing alar surgery prior to a formal Rhinoplasty; it is usually done at the conclusion of the procedure to take into account tip position changes.  I hope this helps!

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear MzTrixxieI would suggest that you dont have an alar base reduction prior to a formal rhinoplasty as it will impact the rhinoplasty surgeons ability to give you a better result. If needed, it should be done at the time of or after a rhinoplasty.

Aaron Kosins, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  Oftentimes, African American patients complain of a bulbous tip and also a wide nose down towards the tip and nostrils.  Along with refining the tip, the alar base (the widest area of the nose closest to the upper lip) can be narrowed in 1 of 2 ways depending on whether the whole area is wide and/or if the nostrils are flaring.  Either operation involves scars on the nose but can be absolutely essential to get a great result.  Alars refer to the lower lateral cartilages that make up the tip complex.  -Plasty simply means to change or to mold.  This term is not often used and really is not specific.  For most of my African American patients, they need changes made to their alar cartilage as well as the alar base to decrease the overall width and flare of the nose.  I would not recommend doing this as a separate procedure.  I hope this helps.Aaron Kosins, MDPlastic & Rhinoplasty Surgeon

Carlos Burnett, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello MzTrixxie and thanks for the inquiry. The term alarplasty is not commonly used by many BCPSs. We say "alar base reduction" and if you google it you'll get some insight about the technical aspects. Alar base reduction mainly affects the nostril flare and width of the lower 1/3 of the nose. It will not address a bulbous tip. Ethnic rhinoplasty patients benefit from suture techniques for the tip as well as cartilage grafts with conservative defatting for tip refinement. I think you'd be better off waiting for  the the rhino combined with the base reduction ( my preferred approach). Another route would be to have the rhino first and have the base reduction sometime after if needed. I have found that more AA patients have prioritized  the tip and bridge first followed by nostiril flare or size. Hope this helps

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

An alarplasty is performed to either narrow the nasal base or reduce the flare. It does not treat a bulbous tip but is an adjunct procedure to the tip work.

Michael T. Somenek, MD · Answer

If you are going to consider an alarplasty it is best to combine this with a rhinoplasty. I wouldn't recommend staging it because these are going to be two separate costs and procedures that could otherwise be done simultaneously.

Jon F. Harrell, DO, FACS · Answer

The 'Ala' is the name given to the skin that extends from the lower tip of the nose to meet the cheek and forms the outer border of the nostril opening. This particular area can be operated on as a stand alone procedure but is much more commonly performed with nasal tip surgery or as part of a compete Rhinoplasty. Each patient is unique as is his or her concerns, so while you might be a good candidate for an isolated 'alar- plasty', another patient might benefit from including some form of tip contouring. Pictures would help, but if you're serious about your concerns, schedule an appointment with an experienced surgeon to weigh out your options and put things into perspective. Then you can decide which procedure or procedures would best suit your concerns. Best of Luck   Dr Harrell

What is alarplasty? Is there such a thing as "Ethnic Alarplasty"

Answers (7)

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