Diagnosis and correction of alar rim deformities in rhinoplasty

Recognition of alar rim deformities is an important component of the preoperative analysis of the nose. Correction of these deformities improves the esthetic balance of the nose and has an added benefit of improving the function of the external nasal valve. Classification systems have been proposed to enable surgeons to more accurately diagnose alar deformities. These classification systems help guide surgeons as to the appropriate surgical procedure to correct a problem. The purpose of this article is to review the proposed classification systems for alar rim deformities and review the specific surgical techniques that have been proposed for each of the deformities.