λ-Shaped Implant for Augmentation of Anterior Nasal Spine in Asian Rhinoplasty as an Ancillary Procedure

Abstract.

There is often a preexisting acute columella-labial angle in Asian noses and in most of these cases, the nasal spine is underdeveloped or sometimes even absent. Moreover, nasal tip projection by a tip graft or cephalic rotation of the nasal tip may get worse at the retracted columella-labial junction in the Asian nose with an underdeveloped anterior nasal spine, thus requiring the use of a maxillary spine graft or an implant. In many instances, however, the ideal source of autogenous tissue may not be available or the donor site for these tissues may be objectionable. So I have designed the λ-shaped silicone implant for augmenting the underdeveloped anterior nasal spine (ANS) to correct the acute columella-labial angle. From March, 1996 until September, 1999, I have done ANS augmentations using the λ-shaped silicone implant in Asian rhinoplasty on 37 female patients. The correction of an acute columella-labial angle was readily accomplished by application of the λ-shaped implant using the unilateral intranasal approach. The author suggests that ANS augmentation with the λ-shaped implant is a simple and effective method as an ancillary procedure in Asian rhinoplasty providing esthetically pleasing results in properly selected Asian patients.