Nasal Deviation and Facial Asymmetry in Patients Undergoing Rhinoplasty

The existing literature is conflicted on whether nasal deviation is primarily attributable to trauma or the result of asymmetric facial development.

The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of nasal trauma and facial asymmetry in patients undergoing rhinoplasty, and to determine if a correlation exists between the laterality of facial asymmetry and nasal deviation.

A retrospective review was undertaken of patients who had undergone primary rhinoplasty with the senior author over a 12-month period. Patient charts were reviewed and clinical photographs were analyzed.

In total, 144 patients underwent rhinoplasty over the study period; 68 patients underwent revision rhinoplasty and were excluded. Of the 76 patients who underwent primary rhinoplasty, 9% reported prior nasal trauma, 68% had deviated nasal bones, 46% had deviated nasal tips, 70% had asymmetric midfaces, and 36% had deviated chins. In patients without prior trauma history, nasal bones were most commonly deviated towards the side of midface hypoplasia (53%, P = .008). The nasal tip was most commonly deviated contralateral to the side of septal deviation (59%, P = .001). There was no association between nasal bone and chin deviation. Nasal tip deviation was not associated with midface hypoplasia or chin deviation.

Nasal deviation is primarily driven by asymmetric facial growth rather than being the result of nasal trauma.