Power instrumentation for shaping the nasal cartilages

The cartilaginous structures of the nose play an important role in nasal esthetics and function. The handling of these structures has always been very treacherous, and long-term follow-up quite often has shown unexpected results. Based on Gibson's studies, we propose the use of abrasion treatment of the nasal cartilages with the burr power drill. This device can produce controlled weakening on determined regions of the nasal cartilages. If this weakening is done on just one side, the cartilage will bend to the opposite side. On the septal cartilage, this method can be used to straighten it by abrasion on its concave portion. To correct the alar cartilages, the burring is done either to enhance curvatures or to change the conformation of the alar cartilage itself. This method was used in 67 patients with satisfactory results, permitting corrections of septal deviations with very little resections of the septal cartilages and corrections of various tip deformities, with almost no resections at all of the alar cartilages.