eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Nose

Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts: Follow-up

Author: John M Hilinski, MD, Clinical Instructor in Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego Medical Center; Private Practice, San Diego Face and Neck Specialties PC
Coauthor(s): Patrick Byrne, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; Deborah Watson, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 26, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Objective preoperative and postoperative evaluation of spreader graft placement is difficult because the current methods of measuring nasal patency fail to provide reproducible results. In addition, great controversy remains regarding the lack of correlation between objective resistance measures and subjective improvement in nasal obstruction.

The most reliable outcome variable to date remains the patient's own assessment of whether nasal breathing has improved following spreader graft placement. Some investigators report that internal valve reconstruction performed with spreader grafts results in as many as 95% of patients experiencing subjective improvement in function.

With function and aesthetics inextricably linked in rhinoplasty, many patients also report high satisfaction rates in nasal symmetry and appearance following spreader graft placement. With careful technique and regard to structural concerns, spreader grafts can predictably result in aesthetic enhancement and positive outcomes in most patients.

 


More on Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts

Overview: Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts
Workup: Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts
Treatment: Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts
Follow-up: Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts
Multimedia: Rhinoplasty, Spreader Grafts
References
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References

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Further Reading

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Keywords

rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty, spreader grafts, nasal grafts, alar spreader grafts, internal nasal valve, nasal valve stenosis, inverted V deformity, revision rhinoplasty, secondary rhinoplasty

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

John M Hilinski, MD, Clinical Instructor in Surgery, Department of Surgery, Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Diego Medical Center; Private Practice, San Diego Face and Neck Specialties PC
John M Hilinski, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, California Medical Association, and California Society of Plastic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Patrick Byrne, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Patrick Byrne, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, and American College of Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Deborah Watson, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Diego School of Medicine
Deborah Watson, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Frederick J Menick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine; Facial and Nasal Reconstructive Surgeon, Tucson, Arizona
Frederick J Menick, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Disclosure: none None None

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

George Peck, Jr, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Plastic Surgery, St Barnabas Hospital of New Jersey
George Peck, Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center
Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

John R Taylor, MD, FRCSC, FACS, Independent Practice, Ontario
John R Taylor, MD, FRCSC, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Canadian Medical Association, and Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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