Hybrid rhinoplasty: beyond the dichotomy of rhinoplasty techniques

Although rhinoplasty and the development of facial aesthetic criteria can be traced to several millennia, contemporary techniques have passed through a rapid evolutionary process in the past century (1) (2). Although understanding human anatomy and the consequences of surgical excision occupied the minds of the founders of rhinoplasty, the process moved towards preservation of supporting structures, and maintaining the physiological functions of the nose. Initially, this endonasal approach created its own series of problems due to excessive tissue removal. External rhinoplasty provided a new impetus for growth in this field, and since its inception, has swung the pendulum of reconstruction firmly into its own sphere of influence. However, as no rhinoplasty technique holds all the answers, hybrid rhinoplasty seeks to combine the best achievements of 20(th) century rhinoplasty, from all schools of thought, in order to provide a safe, sensible and planned approach to the most demanding operation for the facial plastic surgeon.