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Can hanging columella & excess scar tissue be improved without a major surgery (local anesthesia or steroid improvement)?(Photo)

I had a rhinoplasty/septoplasty in '02 and a revision in '07. Both were open technique. I am happy with the improvements on my nose but not with the resulting hanging columella and a lot of what appears to be hard cartilage/scar tissue in the septum. I really don't want to go for another major surgery now or have general anesthesia but want to know if there is a simple procedure that can improve the columella/remove some of the scar tissue. I am not looking for perfection- just improvement

Doctor Answers 2

August 11th, 2014

Treatment of Hanging Columella and Excision of Scar Tissue

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This can be accomplished under local anesthesia with a relatively minor procedure. This is not a simple procedure but is relatively minor in the hands of a rhinoplasty surgeon.
Richard W. Fleming, MD


Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 40 reviews

August 11th, 2014

Revision for Hanging Columella

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Thank you for the pictures and your questions. In rhinoplasty, the more times the nose has been operated, the more difficult modifications become. The hanging columella is a problem in the tip cartilages. In your case, it looks like these are bowed outward. There are more or less involved ways of dealing with this -- from shaving the front of the cartilages to repositioning them more posteriorly. In some cases, tip work can be done under local anesthesia in the office. This is very patient-specific, however. Please visit with your surgeon to discuss your specific case.

Learn more: http://www.sanfranciscofacialplasticsurgery.com/facial-plastic-surgery-san-francisco/nose/revision-rhinoplasty/

Evan Ransom, MD
*Treatment results may vary

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