Unilateral osteotomies for externally deviated noses

Despite the many methods described for correction of the deviated nose, it still continues to be one of the most challenging problems in rhinoplasty. It is obvious from the literature that the deformities present in the deviated nose can be quite different from patient to patient and that there is no one method that should be used for every deviated nose. Although unilateral osteotomy technique is not a new concept, so far it has not received the interest of plastic surgeons. Shorter operation time, lessened surgical trauma to the nose, lessened intraoperative bleeding, lessened postoperative edema, and lessened recurrence of the deviation are distinct features of the unilateral osteotomy technique that should be considered when planning surgery on such a complex deformity. We present our experiences with unilateral osteotomy and recommend it for patients who have a deviation related to only one side of the nose.