Split Cartilage Resection of Nasal Dome: A Solution to Ptotic Nasal Tips

In ptotic noses, it is rather difficult to achieve the intended functional and cosmetic result without modifying the alar cartilage and creating a new nasal tip. The split cartilage resection method was intended to create a new and permanent nasal tip to protect the physiologic and cosmetic appearance of the nose in the presence of long and ptotic nasal tip.

A total of 53 patients who had nasal tip ptosis were included in the study: 26 patients (Group 1) who underwent lateral crural overlap because of the alar cartilage problem and 27 patients (Group 2) who underwent dome split cartilage resection. After at least 1 year of follow-up, the pre- and postoperative measurements of patients indicating their rotations and projections in their computerized images were compared and acoustic rhinometry was performed to determine the nasal valve function.

There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to the pre- and postoperative nasolabial angels, rotation angles, Goode index, and nasofacial angle. There were no significant differences between the nasal cavity volume values of the 2 groups; the volume increase in wide nasal cavity in Group 2 was higher. After the operation, the increase in minimum cross-sectional area values in Group 2 was significantly >1 in Group 1.

The nasal tip split resection method is a method that can be implemented and should be kept in mind as a technique, which must be considered as an alternative method for noses with ptotic and long nasal tip disorder.