Background
This study aimed at overcoming the disadvantages of septal extension grafts and keeping
the nasal tip as natural as possible by using different forms of the graft and additional
supporting methods depending on the case.
Methods
Among 458 patients who received a septal extension graft from March 2008 to September
2011, 107 patients were selected who underwent at least a 6-month follow-up. Patients
were categorized according to the primary objective of the operation; an upturned
tip correction or tip lengthening, tip lengthening with tip projection, or retracted
columella correction. Each group of patients received a different type of septal extension
graft out of 3 different types of grafts based on the purpose of the operation. The
evaluation of the results was made from by comparing preoperative and postoperative
photographs of the tip angle, projection, and nasolabial angle.
Results
The average tip angle for the patients in the upturned tip correction group was reduced
to 98.3 from 124.9 degrees. For the patients in the tip lengthening with tip projection
group, the average tip angle was reduced to 96.8 from 122.4 degrees and the average
tip projection was increased to 27.5 from 23.2 mm. The average nasolabial angle for
the patients in the retracted columella correction group was increased to 94.6 from
74.8 degrees.
Conclusions
Sufficient nasal tip lengthening and projection could be achieved by applying a septal
extension graft using the graft best suited for the group of patients categorized
by surgical objective.
Keywords
Nose - Rhinoplasty - Nasal cartilages
