Hello, I had rhinoplasty several years ago and have become growingly self-concious about my indented columella. Ideally, I would like to have minimally invasive procedures to correct the scar but I am not sure that that would be possible for my case. What are your suggestions and what is the typical recovery time for each?
Answer: Revising Indented Columella Scar
Thank you for the great question and the pictures. As some others have said, the issue with revising this type of scar is that you can't get rid of any tissue without affecting the shape or projection of the tip of the nose. While it is true that the incision can be made again, without cutting away the depressed scar, the improvement would likely be minimal at best. It would be possible to remove some of the anterior-most part of the septum to provide laxity, which would then allow the scar to be trimmed, but would also change the tip shape somewhat. A final option that I have used in my revision rhinoplasty practice is laser resurfacing. Using low settings (because of the sensitive nature of the skin here), some improvement in texture and surface smoothness can be achieved.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
Answer: Revising Indented Columella Scar
Thank you for the great question and the pictures. As some others have said, the issue with revising this type of scar is that you can't get rid of any tissue without affecting the shape or projection of the tip of the nose. While it is true that the incision can be made again, without cutting away the depressed scar, the improvement would likely be minimal at best. It would be possible to remove some of the anterior-most part of the septum to provide laxity, which would then allow the scar to be trimmed, but would also change the tip shape somewhat. A final option that I have used in my revision rhinoplasty practice is laser resurfacing. Using low settings (because of the sensitive nature of the skin here), some improvement in texture and surface smoothness can be achieved.
Helpful 3 people found this helpful
May 25, 2013
Answer: Prominent Indented Columella Scar. What Are my Treatment Options?
The scar can be revised under local anesthesia with closer approximation of the respective tissues. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
May 25, 2013
Answer: Prominent Indented Columella Scar. What Are my Treatment Options?
The scar can be revised under local anesthesia with closer approximation of the respective tissues. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Easy Fix For A Columellar Scar
A simple scar revision (cutting out the scar and sewing the skin edges back together) done using a local anesthetic in the office should fix this issue.
Helpful 4 people found this helpful
Answer: Easy Fix For A Columellar Scar
A simple scar revision (cutting out the scar and sewing the skin edges back together) done using a local anesthetic in the office should fix this issue.
Helpful 4 people found this helpful
May 28, 2013
Answer: Columellar scar from open rhinoplasty
One camouflage solution would be to trim back the membranous and cartilaginous septum to reduce the columellar show, and thereby making this columella not quite so prominent and helping hide this scar
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
May 28, 2013
Answer: Columellar scar from open rhinoplasty
One camouflage solution would be to trim back the membranous and cartilaginous septum to reduce the columellar show, and thereby making this columella not quite so prominent and helping hide this scar
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 3, 2014
Answer: Inverted Columellar Scar
The most likely reason for your inverted columellar scar is that there was not appropriate eversion of the skin edges during closure. Correction with surgery is certainly possible but it will not be successful if the scar is just cut out and brought together again. Such a move would only create a loss of tip projection and probably a worsening of the scar. If surgery is chosen then things should be opened up and some type of increased support and increased width to the columella accomplished with a strut. Both sides of the incision will need to be mobilized before re approximating them and the tip skin should be undermined widely to allow it to close without tension.
There is a possibility that placing some filler in the scar will help to elevate it and there is nothing to lose by trying some Juvederm or Restylane.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 3, 2014
Answer: Inverted Columellar Scar
The most likely reason for your inverted columellar scar is that there was not appropriate eversion of the skin edges during closure. Correction with surgery is certainly possible but it will not be successful if the scar is just cut out and brought together again. Such a move would only create a loss of tip projection and probably a worsening of the scar. If surgery is chosen then things should be opened up and some type of increased support and increased width to the columella accomplished with a strut. Both sides of the incision will need to be mobilized before re approximating them and the tip skin should be undermined widely to allow it to close without tension.
There is a possibility that placing some filler in the scar will help to elevate it and there is nothing to lose by trying some Juvederm or Restylane.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful