Is it common to use spreader graft during a closed rhinoplasty?

Hello,It is not true that 'it makes no difference' whether spreader grafts are placed via an open or close procedure. Virtually everyone who places spreader through a closed procedure does so without suture fixation. I adhere to the philosophy of a thoughtful surgeon who just retired, John Tebbits. He believed and wrote in his book that rhinoplasty is too difficult to perform consistently and successfully without every possible advantage the surgeon could use. Open rhinoplasty affords that advantage, so that accurate and secure placement of grafts can be made, every time. Best of luck!

Spreader grafts are probably more commonly placed through an open or external rhinoplasty approach. However, they can also be placed through a closed or endonasal approach, as well. I think that placement through an external approach allows for more precision in placement, but there are certainly many surgeons who would argue that this concern is trivial and does not affect the result.

Ok....

So spreader grafts are small pieces of cartilage (usually taken from the septum during septoplasty - when fixing the breathing) and stitched in place in the INTERNAL NASAL VALVE area of the nose.  They help increase the angle of the internal nasal valve, thereby increasing airflow in this region.  

Spreader grafts can be placed by the open or the closed approach.  It is very simple and straightforward to place these with the closed approach and it is NOT necessary to do open rhinoplasty just to place spreader grafts. 

Spreader grafts are placed if the valve area is weak causing breathing issues, or if the valve area is weak and causes a cosmetic pinch of the mid-third of the nose (which can naturally occur before surgery or can occur during the surgery after the hump/bump is taken down on the dorsum of the nose - at which point your surgeon would likely elect to place spreaders to help prevent a mid-third pinch).



All the best!