Correction of Blunt Nasal Tip with "Contour Tip Gragt" and Alar Cartilage Modification

ABSTRACT

The aim of aesthetic rhinoplasty is to produce harmonious contour of the nasal tip as well as to provide dorsal augmentation. The nasal tip should look definite but not too pointed or artificial. Natural contour is most desirable. Among the patients(n = 140) who had augmentation rhinoplasty between 1995 to 1999, 107 patients were classified to have blunt tips. The cases who have other types of tip deformities were excluded. In this study, we present our tip plasty technique for the correction of blunt tips. The blunt tip deformities were divided into bulbous tip(n = 82) and broad tip(n = 25). As for the operation, different tip thinning procedures were done according to this classification. Then dorsal augmentation with silastic implant was performed. Authors used "Contour Tip Graft" technique to produce aesthetic oriental nasal tip. This technique made use of the graft of stacked autogenous cartilages with small pieces of diced cartilage around it. The stacked cartilages were for tip projection and surrounding pieces for natural contour. This method can yield more natural appearance of the tip and lobule. Our tip plasty technique combined with dorsal augmentation is very useful and effective procedure in the correction of blunt tip.