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Nostril Surgery: Indications, Surgical Procedures and Outcomes—A Systematic Review of Published Cases

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  • Rhinoplasty
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Abstract

Introduction

To achieve adequate nasal proportions, nostril surgery can be a complementary technique useful in facial surgery. To help surgeons with the decision to realize nostril surgery, we conducted a systematic review to summarize reported cases on surgical procedures with a specific interest on indications, surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes. A therapeutic algorithm is also proposed.

Method

We carried out this review in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. Twenty-two eligible studies were identified using Medical databases, including 1599 patients. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out.

Discussion

Excision techniques were realized on 728 patients (45.5%), followed by cinching sutures on 642 patients (40%) and combined techniques: excision techniques with flap advancement techniques in 189 cases (12%), excision techniques with flap advancement techniques and cinching suture in 40 patients (2.5%). When excessive alar flaring was present, alar wedge resection was preferred in the 92% of followed by alar and sill resection. Cinching sutures were realized when excessive alar flaring was associated with a vertical alar axis, in cases of wide alar base, of associated orthognathic surgery. When excessive alar flaring was associated with wide alar bases, indications changed basing on the associated deformities. In 795 patients, nostril surgery was conducted simultaneously with rhinoplasty.

Conclusion

Nostril surgery through excision techniques, cinching sutures or flaps advancement techniques, reveals good outcomes and can be complementary to rhinoplasty or orthognathic surgery. Through this systematic review, we tried to orient surgeons to find the best treatment for nostril base surgery.

Level of Evidence III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

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Correspondence to R. Carloni.

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Gandolfi, S., Laloze, J., Chaput, B. et al. Nostril Surgery: Indications, Surgical Procedures and Outcomes—A Systematic Review of Published Cases. Aesth Plast Surg 44, 2219–2229 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-020-01911-y

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