A New Definition for Alar Flare Based on "Alar Flare Angle"

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Facial Aesthetics
• Rhinoplasty Techniques

Background:

• Accurate diagnosis and treatment are crucial for successful rhinoplasty.
• Alar flares present a common aesthetic challenge in rhinoplasty.
• A standardized definition for alar flares is needed to guide clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and validate a new definition for alar flares based on the alar flare angle.
• To establish an ideal alar flare angle range for aesthetic nasal bases.
• To evaluate the efficacy of surgical interventions for correcting alar flares.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 33 patients with alar flares (July 2017-July 2021).
• Definition of alar flare angle using specific anatomical landmarks.
• Measurement of alar flare angle, interalar distance, and nasal base width.
• Surgical correction including alar wedge excision, alar base excision, and tip elevation.
• Postoperative evaluation of scars, complications, and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• An ideal alar flare angle was determined to be between 130 and 140 degrees.
• An alar flare angle less than 130 degrees was identified as the diagnostic criterion for alar flares.
• External alar wedge excision effectively corrected alar flares, achieving angles over 130 degrees post-surgery.
• All 33 patients reported satisfaction with the surgical outcomes, with minimal complications.

Conclusions:

• A new definition of alar flares, characterized by an alar flare angle below 130 degrees, is proposed.
• This definition provides a valuable and objective criterion for the clinical diagnosis of alar flares.
• Surgical correction, particularly external alar wedge excision, is effective in treating alar flares and improving patient satisfaction.