Double Columellar Strut: A New Method for Tip Surgery-A Study of 642 Cases with a 15-Year Follow-up

Of the first nasal tip modeling procedures performed, the Anderson tripod concept is the most well known, and many anatomy-related studies have analyzed the components involved in tip surgery. The main goals of nasal tip surgery are to stabilize the tip complex, which largely affects the shape, projection and rotation of the nasal tip.

The present study describes a new, original method, the double columellar strut and its main advantages compared to conventional techniques used for structural rhinoplasty.

The study involved 642 patients (496 women and 146 men, with an average age of 38.67 years) who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2018 by two operators. The patients were re-examined to evaluate the outcomes at least 1 year after surgery, and long-term results (15 years) were recorded for the oldest patients in regard to esthetics (projection, shape, rotation) and breathing function.

Of the 642 patients, 34 required a surgical revision for minor defects of the tip due to asymmetry, and the natural appearance after the first surgery was not affected. For the primary rhinoplasties, there were no breathing disorders that required revision surgery due to systematic restoration or preservation of the middle third.

The double columellar strut could be performed in the same conditions that the others conventional structural grafts. As a polyvalent alternative, it can be used with closed or open approaches and involves the use of only a limited amount of cartilaginous material. This anatomical approach yields natural results, acting as a foundation for controlling the shape, projection and rotation of the nasal tip. In addition, with or without complementary techniques such as the "tongue-in-groove" technique or tip grafts, the double columellar strut can be considered a "multifunction pocket knife" for tip surgery.

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