Is It Possible to Reverse Alarplasty?

Dear Ratedrko,


It depends on what your exam looks like

You may need extra length of the nostrils, and a graft with skin and cartilage can be used from the ear

The other alternative is to do something to open the nostril with stitches

You can look at both options during a consultation


Best regards,

Nima Shemirani

During an alar reduction procedure, a portion of the nasal ala (at the base, most commonly) is actually removed. Restoring that portion of tissue is not possible, however that does not necessarily mean that a revision is out of the question.

Alar reduction is one procedure in rhinoplasty in which the soft tissue is actually removed.  Therefore, in order to reverse it, soft tissue and skin needs to be replaced.  Doing this is difficult.  First, the tissue to be added must be stiff enough to overcome the contracture and narrowing resulting from the first procedure--this means a composite graft of skin and cartilage together.  These grafts are bulky and hard to hide. The graft can be hidden inside the rim of the nostril to restore some of the alar over-hang, but they will most likely cause some bulk inside the nostril, which could create some airflow obstruction.  The grafts cannot be completely hidden when used to restore alar flare or width.  This type of situation is one in which the "correction" creates a situation worse than the "problem". 

Alar plasty usually entails removal of tissue. Once that tissue is removed it is almost impossible to reconstruct it without significant scarring.

Usually it is impossible to reverse an alarplasty  after portions of the nasal base are removed. I would need to see pictures to determine if the width or contour can be improved.

Hi.

But you have a very difficult problem.  The removed tissue has to be replaced, and that is usually done with composite grafts from the ears.