Reconstruction of the alar groove

The obliteration of a well-defined alar groove is common after nasal alar reconstruction. A method is described that can be used at the time of reconstruction to ensure the continued definition of the groove or to restore it in cases where it has been obliterated. The technique is based on the natural tendency of the skin to tube itself. Cheek skin is advanced beneath the posterior free edge of the reconstructed ala so that this edge now comes into contact with an epidermal surface. As this edge now tends to tube itself, a natural alar groove is produced. This method has been used successfully in six cases.