Can alar retraction be repaired without major surgery? (Photo)

Question

I had a rhinoplasty 20 years ago (do not know if it was open or closed). Now I have become intolerant of the expansion of my nostrils. Last year I finally got temporary fillers because I am unwilling to have a revision rhinoplasty that involved general anesthesia. I understand correction for alar retraction involves skin grafts and can be done in office under local according to some great before and after photos from a surgeon in CT. Can my nostrils be lowered/refined/fixed without general?

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.As far as I can see from your photos I can say that unfortunately without general anesthesia your surgeon cannot perform alar base reduction surgery. It would be better with face to face consultation. Best Regards!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

From the limited photographs presented,  you have a combination of alar retraction, and a hanging columella. Both of those can be addressed under local anesthesia, but you better have some intestinal fortitude to get those areas numb in order to undergo the surgery, since there is a lot of nerve endings in that area. Once the area is numb, it's pretty straightforward to reduce the hanging columella and place composite skin grafts from the ear. In our practice, we have done both of these procedures under local anesthesia on some individuals, but the majority of patients prefer general anesthesia

Can alar retraction be repaired without major surgery? (Photo)

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