What is Open Nose Surgery (Open Rhinoplasty)?
Open nose surgery is a rhinoplasty technique where the nasal skeleton can be worked on under a wider view to correct complex deformities at the nasal tip and nasal bridge. When planning open rhinoplasty in Samsun, the goal is to correctly reconstruct the nasal tip support, correct asymmetries, and obtain a natural nose compatible with your face.
In this technique, thanks to a small incision made in the columella region between the nostrils, the nasal cartilage and bone structures become directly visible. This provides a significant advantage, especially in patients who have had previous surgery, experienced trauma, or have advanced deformities.
Points Distinguishing Open Rhinoplasty from the Closed Technique
A single method is not ideal for everyone in nose surgery. When choosing between open and closed rhinoplasty, the nasal structure, the degree of complaints, and whether surgery has been performed before are definitely taken into consideration.
- Wider field of view: Since the nasal skeleton can be directly observed in the open technique, detailed shaping of the nasal tip cartilages, in particular, becomes possible.
- Advantage in complex deformities: It facilitates the controlled rearrangement of cartilage and bone structures in deformities remaining from trauma, serious curvature, or previously performed surgeries.
- Possibility of fine-tuning: It provides more control in procedures such as nasal tip support, cartilage graft placement, and correction of asymmetries.
In our clinic in Samsun, the choice of open or closed technique is evaluated separately for each patient after the examination. While closed rhinoplasty is sufficient for some patients, the open technique is a more correct choice in some cases.
Who is a Suitable Candidate for Open Rhinoplasty?
Open rhinoplasty is a more frequently preferred approach, especially in the following cases:
- Significant droopiness or width of the nasal tip
- Noses with serious curvature (deviation) and asymmetry
- Deformities occurring after trauma
- Noses that have been operated on before, requiring revision rhinoplasty
- Cases where nasal tip support needs to be reconstructed
During the examination; your nasal tip support, cartilage structure, skin thickness, and breathing status are evaluated together. Then, it is discussed which of the open, closed, or preservation rhinoplasty approaches would be more suitable for you.
Patients Requiring a Second or Third Surgery
In patients who have had rhinoplasty before and are not satisfied with the result or whose breathing complaints continue, the cartilage tissue may be weakened or its shape may be distorted. In this case, open rhinoplasty is often more advantageous in order to be able to intervene in the tissue under full view.
Open Rhinoplasty Surgery Process in Samsun
In Samsun open rhinoplasty surgeries, the process starts with a detailed examination, photo analysis, and planning. The goal is not to encounter surprises on the day of surgery and to clarify all details beforehand.
Pre-Operative Planning
During the examination:
- Nasal bridge, nasal tip, nostrils, and facial proportions are analyzed.
- Photos are taken from front, side, and three-quarter angles.
- Septum, concha, and internal nasal structures are evaluated endoscopically or by examination.
In this process, both your aesthetic expectations and your breathing complaints are discussed in detail. The goal is to determine a realistic and natural result target suitable for your face.
Technical Progress of the Surgery
Open rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anesthesia. Briefly, the process can be summarized as follows:
- A small incision is made in the columella region between the nostrils.
- The nasal skin is lifted in a controlled manner over the cartilage and bone structure.
- Nasal bridge, nasal tip, septum, and when necessary, concha structures are reshaped.
- In necessary cases, nasal tip support and symmetry are strengthened with cartilage grafts.
- At the end of the procedure, tissue layers are closed in accordance with anatomical plans.
In most patients, a splint is placed on the nose, and supportive silicone splints can be used inside the nose if necessary.
Recovery Process After Open Rhinoplasty
Although the recovery process varies according to your nasal structure, the scope of the procedure, and your tissue response, it generally proceeds as follows:
- Swelling and bruising may be prominent for the first few days.
- The splint placed on the nose is usually removed around 1 week.
- If a silicone splint was used, it is removed at the appropriate time, taking the breathing status into account.
While most of the swelling decreases in the first weeks, a few months are needed especially for the nasal tip to settle fully and for fine details to become clear. The recovery process is closely followed in control appointments.
Will There Be a Scar in Open Rhinoplasty?
The incision made in open rhinoplasty is located in the columella region between the nostrils. After the stitches are removed and the recovery process is completed, this incision becomes a line so thin that it will not be noticed from a daily speaking distance in most patients.
Scar visibility can vary from person to person depending on skin type, skin color, tissue healing characteristics, and compliance with post-operative care recommendations. It usually remains as a thin line that loses its color over time.
Open Rhinoplasty or Closed Rhinoplasty?
Open and closed techniques are not rival methods that should be compared with each other as "good-bad". Both approaches can yield extremely successful results when the right patient is selected and correctly planned.
- Closed rhinoplasty may offer the advantage of no stitch marks and less swelling in suitable nose types.
- Open rhinoplasty allows for detailed work especially in revision rhinoplasty, serious curvatures, and complex deformities.
- Preservation rhinoplasty is a modern approach that shapes the nasal bridge while preserving it as much as possible.
In our clinic in Samsun, which technique is more suitable for you is decided by evaluating your nasal structure and expectations together during the examination.
Open Rhinoplasty Together with Breathing Problems
Correcting the external shape of the nose while ignoring the internal nasal structures will not be satisfactory in the long run. Therefore, when planning open rhinoplasty:
- Septum deviation (curvature of the middle nasal partition)
- Concha hypertrophy (enlargement of the nasal flesh)
- Areas affecting air passage such as valve stenosis
can be evaluated in the same session and necessary surgical corrections can be made. The goal is to obtain a balanced result both aesthetically and functionally after the surgery.