eMedicine Specialties > Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery > Cosmetic Surgery
Rhinoplasty, Multiracial: Treatment
Updated: Oct 7, 2008
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Besides altering concepts of self-image and camouflaging nasal appearance with makeup, no nonsurgical means of obtaining a desired change in nasal appearance exist.
Surgical Therapy
For patients with reasonable expectations who are interested in tangibly altering the appearance of the nose, current rhinoplasty techniques provide an excellent means of achieving predictable aesthetic and functional results.
Preoperative Details
A comprehensive preoperative evaluation is imperative. Obtain a detailed history documenting the patient's perception of the problem, fully explore both functional and aesthetic concerns, and elicit any history of previous nasal trauma or surgery. A history of smoking, nasal substance abuse, and relevant systemic problems should be taken into consideration. Appropriately discontinue all anticoagulant medication before surgery.
Perform a thorough physical examination, with special attention to multiracial features that may affect the operative plan. Evaluate skin texture and quality and the nature of the subcutaneous fibrofatty pad by visual inspection and palpation. Determine bony and cartilaginous dorsal nasal support. Note size, strength, and pliability of the upper and lower lateral cartilages, and test patency of the nasal valves with the modified Cottle maneuver. Study tip projection, rotation, and definition. Note the width of the alae and any deficiency in the premaxillary area.
Anterior rhinoscopy and flexible nasal endoscopy are important for uncovering intranasal causes of nasal obstruction and sinonasal pathology. Evidence of other rhinologic disease may require attention prior to rhinoplasty. Meticulous photographic documentation helps in operative planning and is necessary for follow-up, medicolegal, and learning purposes. Occasionally, other facial plastic procedures (eg, mentoplasty, maxillary augmentation, cheiloplasty) in conjunction with rhinoplasty must be considered to achieve the optimal desired result.
The surgeon must have a complete understanding of the patient's concerns and expectations of rhinoplasty surgery. In light of the patient's request, discuss the goal of maintaining facial features congruent with the patient's ethnic identity, while improving nasal contour. Carefully review limitations imposed by the anatomic features of multiracial individuals and the slightly increased risk of complications. Computer modeling of projected outcome can help to ground patients' expectations, although the final result may not exactly duplicate the projection. Many patients do not have direct contact with others who have had the procedure and may base hopes and desires on inaccurate sources. Having patients meet with satisfied multiracial role models who have already undergone the procedure is often helpful. Dissuade patients who have unrealistic expectations of rhinoplasty from having the procedure, and encourage them to seek additional counseling.
Intraoperative Details
The authors practice the following technique for multiracial rhinoplasty. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with monitored sedation or under general anesthesia, depending on patient and surgeon preference. General anesthesia may be preferable, given the challenging nature of these cases. Achieve topical vasoconstriction of the nasal mucosa by placing a sponge (eg, Merocel) impregnated with 3-5 mL of 0.5% phenylephrine hydrochloride (Neo-Synephrine) in each nostril. Then, appropriately inject the nose with 0.5% lidocaine hydrochloride with 1:200,000 epinephrine bitartrate, taking care to avoid distortion of nasal anatomy.
Perform a septoplasty in standard fashion, using a transfixation incision. Harvest cartilage, conscientiously preserving adequate anterior and dorsal struts. Correct cartilaginous and bony spurs and deviations. Then, close the transfixation incisions using interrupted 4.0 chromic sutures. Reapproximate the septal mucoperichondrial flaps using a 3.0 chromic mattress suture. Exercise caution to ensure adequate drainage holes to minimize the chance of postoperative septal hematoma. Save harvested cartilage for use as graft material. If adequate septal cartilage is not present, as often is the case in multiracial rhinoplasty, cartilage can be harvested from other sites (ear, rib), or Medpor (porous high-density polyethylene [PHDPE]) may be an acceptable alloplastic alternative (see Future and Controversies).
The external decortication approach is highly recommended to achieve the exposure necessary for accurate placement of augmentation grafts and for adequate nasal contouring (see Image 2). Make a gull-wing incision along the narrowest part of the columella or along a prominent columella-labial groove. Next, extend the incision laterally, in a marginal fashion, along the caudal edge of the medial crura, dome, and lower lateral cartilage.
Use blunt-tipped scissors to perform a superficial dissection of the nasal skin, taking care to avoid injuring the subdermal plexus. Begin dissection of the underlying thick subcutaneous tissue and fibrofatty pad at the middle columellar region. Elevate the soft tissue pad from the nasal tip cartilages and middle aspect of the dorsum, where it fades into surrounding connective tissue. Save the excised fibrofatty pad for later use with the dorsal augmentation graft. Separate the medial crura down to the anterior nasal spine and premaxilla using sharp-angled scissors. Construct a small precise pocket near the premaxilla to snugly accommodate a carved cartilaginous augmentation graft. If septal or autologous cartilage is unavailable, multiple, tiny, carved-particle Medpor implants may substitute as plumper grafts.
Next, fashion a straight thin strut from septal cartilage or from a 0.85-mm thick sheet of Medpor if autologous cartilage is unavailable. Position this columellar strut between the medial crural cartilages and stabilize with interrupted 4.0 nylon sutures, in a through-and-through manner. Place the stitches sequentially, starting at the nasolabial angle and progressing to the nasal tip, incorporating some lateral crural steal for additional tip projection.
Additional tip support and medialization of the dome and lower lateral cartilages can be achieved with a dome-binding stitch. Given the typically deficient alar cartilages, cephalic trim of the lower lateral cartilages is generally not necessary for tip definition. Placement of a tiered, carved, nasal-tip shield graft, secured in appropriate position with 6.0 nylon sutures, enhances nasal tip projection and rotation. Craft a tired dorsal augmentation graft from septal cartilage, incorporating the harvested fibrofatty pad as the most superficial layer to provide a natural dorsal nasal contour. Insert the graft into a tightly fitted nasal dorsal skin pocket. Alternatively, if autologous cartilage is unavailable, an appropriately carved Medpor nasal dorsal tip implant can be used.
Redrape the nasal skin over the newly contoured dorsum and nasal tip. Reapproximate the transverse columella incision with an interrupted 5.0 Vicryl deep layer, followed by interrupted 6.0 nylon sutures for skin closure. Close the marginal incisions with 5.0 chromic sutures. If necessary, resection of the anterior aspect of the inferior turbinate with turbinate out-fracture is useful in widening the nasal cavity and in increasing the size of the internal nasal valve.
In patients with wide nasal alae, narrow the alae using a pointed caliper to perform carefully measured curved excisions at the nasal base, just above the alar-facial junction, as described by McKinney et al.15 Precision is key, and the alar curve must be preserved. Excision of vestibular skin reduces nostril size, while excision of skin along the cutaneous alar margin reduces nasal base width and flare.
When vestibular skin is resected, Sheen recommends preserving a medial skin flap to decrease the likelihood of nasal sill notching. Sheen warns against performing alar base reduction when the nostrils are wide but not flared because this causes an acute angulation of the ala to the nasal base and may lead to a pinched appearance of the nose. Accomplish lateral osteotomies through the nasal base incisions to further define the nasal dorsum. Then, exactingly reapproximate the alae using 5.0 polyglactin (Vicryl) deep sutures and interrupted 6.0 nylon sutures for the skin. Begin the skin closure at the most superior lateral edge of the incision to hide any irregularities of closure within the medial intranasal portion of the incision. If additional narrowing of the nasal base is required, vertical diamond-shaped skin ellipses can be excised inside the nasal sills. Close these incisions with interrupted 6.0 nylon sutures.
Postoperative Details
The authors find that placement of intranasal Silastic (silicone rubber sheets) septal splints helps promote healing if extensive lacerations of the mucoperichondrial septal flaps exist. Repair any opposing mucosal tears with 4.0 chromic sutures to minimize the chance of septal perforation. Reapproximate the septal flaps per routine with a 3.0 chromic mattress suture. Then, cut silastic sheets to the appropriate size. Slide these into place on either side of the septum and use 3.0 nylon to anchor anteriorly with a through-and-through stitch.
Use of a nonadherent intranasal dressing (eg, Telfa, Merocel sponge wrapped in Telfa) helps to decrease postoperative oozing. Lubricate the dressing in antibacterial ointment (eg, Bacitracin), position in the anterior aspect of the nasal cavity bilaterally, and secure loosely to each other with a stitch to prevent any chance of aspiration. Tape the nose externally to reduce postoperative edema and apply a cast (eg, Aquaplast). Use of cold compresses or soft ice packs postoperatively can help minimize bruising and swelling.
Follow-up
Remove the nasal packing 1-2 days postoperatively and encourage the patient to use saline irrigation. Remove the nasal cast, Silastic splints, and stitches 1 week after surgery. See the patient 2 weeks postoperatively to débride intranasal crusting and then at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months for postoperative photographic documentation. Occasionally, precise injection of steroid into the supratip may enhance tip definition. Final healing with resolution of edema and shrink wrapping of the skin and soft tissue envelope may not occur for as long as 1 year after the procedure.
Complications
As with any surgery, patients must be aware of the chance of complications following rhinoplasty. Potential short-term and long-term complications following any rhinoplasty include edema; bleeding; infection; septal hematoma and perforation; septal deviation or nasal valve collapse with nasal obstruction; poor skin draping or necrosis; underlying bony or cartilaginous irregularities; graft migration, extrusion, and resorption; altered sensation; and the need for revision surgery. However, these risks can be minimized in experienced hands, even in difficult cases of rhinoplasty in multiracial patients.
Multiracial patients are more prone to scarring and keloid formation. Risk of patient dissatisfaction is increased because of the inherent limitations imposed by the nasal anatomy in multiracial persons and by often-unachievable patient expectations.
In a study of 75 patients who underwent rhinoplasty with techniques described in this article, Romo and Shapiro noted no major complications and only occasional minor complications.16 Four patients had notching of the transverse columella incision, 3 had observable suture marks along the alar closure, and 1 patient had an alar incision granuloma. Incorporation of a 2-layer tension-free closure (eg, 5.0 Vicryl deep layer, 6.0 nylon for skin approximation) eliminated all such minor complications. The authors report that critical evaluation of the nasal reconstruction revealed a moderate diminution of tip projection over time in 8 patients. All patients underwent reconstruction with autogenous cartilage grafts, and no significant absorption or extrusion of the grafts was noted.
Falces et al described problems with skin redraping and prolonged nasal tip edema in multiracial patients.10 In a follow-up study, Matory and Falces reported implant displacement, infection, fracture, and extrusion in 4 of 134 rhinoplasties.3 The authors believed that prolonged edema, scars, racial incongruity, or asymmetry were potential problems associated with rhinoplasty in multiracial patients.
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Further Reading
Keywords
rhinoplasty, multiracial rhinoplasty, African American nose, Black nose, Negro nose, Asian nose, Latino nose, Hispanic nose, non-Caucasian nose, platyrrhine nose, mesorrhine nose, plastic surgery, nose job, nasal surgery, cosmetic surgery
