[The sliding technique : a precise method for treating the overprojected nasal tip]

The aim of the present report is to demonstrate the sliding technique as a reliable and exact method to treat the overprojected nasal tip.

Between March 2003 and April 2008 we treated 271 patients (198 females, 73 males) using the sliding technique for isolated tip hypertrophy (n=88), rhinomegaly (n=146), asymmetry of the nasal tip (n=29) and ptosis with malformation of the alar cartilages (n=8).

Medial sliding was performed in 100 patients, lateral sliding in 121 patients, and combined lateral and medial sliding in 12 patients. In total, 18 patients needed additional skin resection at the columella. After an average follow-up period of 8.4 months 77.1% of the patients (n=209) rated the result as "very good", 21.1% (n=57) as"good" and 1.8% (n=5) patients were"unsatisfied". Only 1.8% (n=5) had to be revised due to nasal tip projection. A retrospective study of our first 80 patients showed an average reduction in projection of around 11%.

The sliding technique is a precise and effective method to treat the overprojected nasal tip.