Types of Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, more commonly known as a nose job, reshapes and/or resizes the nose to improve its aesthetics or functions while bringing greater symmetry to the face. Rhinoplasty can significantly enhance a person’s appearance, refreshing one’s look and bringing greater balance to the face. 

When patients undergo rhinoplasty treatment at Dr. Anya Kishinevsky’s plastic surgery center, which serves the Norwalk, CT, and Bridgeport, CT, areas, there are two types of rhinoplasty that may be performed: open rhinoplasty or closed rhinoplasty. These two surgical techniques each offer their own benefits. The procedure that is right for each patient depends largely on their needs and desires regarding treatment.

What Is Open Rhinoplasty?

Open rhinoplasty, or external rhinoplasty, is a surgical technique that utilizes incisions made on the outer nose. When performing open rhinoplasty Dr. Kishinevsky uses a columellar incision. This incision spans across the thin column of tissues that divides the two nostrils. Although the incision is made in a visible location, it is very small, so most patients do not have obvious scarring after rhinoplasty recovery is complete. 

What Are the Benefits of Open Rhinoplasty?

A downside of open rhinoplasty is the location of the incision. Patients are likely to fear visible scarring. However, not only are the chances of visible scarring low, but this technique offers benefits that may be favorable to some of our Norwalk patients. 

Open rhinoplasty grants complete access to underlying bone and cartilage. Visibility is also great when performing open rhinoplasty. The location of the incision makes it easier to make drastic changes to the nose structure without a significant risk of cartilage distortion.

What Is Closed Rhinoplasty?

Closed rhinoplasty, or endonasal rhinoplasty, is a surgical technique that utilizes incisions made on the inside of the nose. When performing closed rhinoplasty Dr. Kishinevsky makes narrow incisions inside each nostril. Necessary alterations are made through these incisions without fully opening the nose or exposing the nasal structure.

What Are the Benefits of Closed Rhinoplasty?

The most significant benefit of closed rhinoplasty is the discreetness of incision placement. Since no incisions are made on the outer nose, there is no visible scarring after surgical recovery. Despite offering more limited visibility than open rhinoplasty, the closed technique is often preferred because it is minimally invasive and tends to result in a faster surgical procedure and less post-surgical swelling.

Which Type of Rhinoplasty Is Right for Me? 

Both open and closed rhinoplasty offer their own benefits, as well as having some drawbacks to consider. When choosing the technique that is right for each patient, Dr. Kishinevsky focuses on which procedure will best meet each patient’s specific needs and desires. Each case is unique, but open rhinoplasty tends to be a better choice for complex structural issues or situations where greater alterations are needed, whereas closed rhinoplasty is often a good choice for straightforward situations that don’t require drastic alterations.

Contact Us 

If you are dissatisfied with the size or shape of your nose, or are experiencing breathing issues, rhinoplasty may be the solution. To learn more about the types of rhinoplasty and what to expect during surgical recovery, send us a message online, or call (203) 388-9919 and schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Anya Kishinevsky.