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  • Why Does the Surgeon Break the Nose During a Rhinoplasty?
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Hi, This is Doctor Portuese in Seattle, and today we're talking about osteotomies of the nasal bones when we perform a rhinoplastic procedure. Osteotomies of the nasal bones are performed to narrow or straighten the nasal bones and bridge line. They involve making cuts in the nasal bones and manually reducing and narrowing the bones to a better, narrower position.

Osteotomies are required when patients have a broken nose or when they want to narrow a wide nasal profile. They are also required after a hump removal. Medial and lateral osteotomies involve making small cuts in the bone and resetting them in the midline.

Once the osteotomies have been performed, a cast will then be applied across the nose and left in place for approximately 5 to 6 days. The osteotomies of the nasal bones are what is responsible for the bruising and swelling after a rhinoplastic procedure. For additional examples, please see our profile at realself.com.

Why Does the Surgeon Break the Nose During a Rhinoplasty?

Dr. William Portuese explains the process of an osteotomy, which is used to reshape the nose after a trauma has misplaced it on the face.