Rhinoplasty Technique for Improving Nasal Base Aesthetics: Lateral Columellar Grafting

One of the most important factors in nasal base aesthetics is symmetry. In the age of social media, the expectations of rhinoplasty patients and the rate of requests for a more symmetrical nose have increased. In this article, a lateral columellar grafting technique that can be applied to augment the more defective side of the columella and obtain a more symmetrical nasal base is presented.

A total of 86 patients (women, 79; men, 7) were included in this study. The surfaces of the right and left lateral margins of the columella were evaluated from the basal view at the final stage of surgery, and a lateral columellar graft was placed on the more defective side. All patients who were included in the study were assessed with the Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation questionnaire before and 1 year after surgery.

The median age of the patients was 28.3 years (range, 18-56 years). Eighty-two patients were primary rhinoplasty patients, and 4 patients were secondary rhinoplasty patients. The median Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation score was 68.3 points before surgery and 92.3 points 1 year after surgery, showing a significant increase ( P = 0.003). Patient satisfaction was found to be excellent in 93% of the included patients.

Using the lateral columellar grafting technique, greater symmetry of the columella and nostrils can be obtained by augmenting the more defective side of the lateral columellar surface.