ABSTRACT

Background: Many differences exist between the nasal base of Asians and Westerners. Consequently, conventional surgical techniques for Westerners that mainly involve performing alar base resection are inappropriate for Asians, and another surgical approach appropriate for Asians is needed.

Methods: The study included 83 patients who presented with a wide nasal base or excessive alar flaring. Nasal tip modification and correction of any preexisting nasal deformities were always completed before the nasal base modification. The surgical procedure combined alar rim resection and an alar cinching suture. When we resect the alar rim, the mean width of the external alar wedge excised is less than 3 mm, and two to three times more of the internal vestibular are excised than in the external alar wedge. Subsequently, we can narrow the nasal base while keeping the natural contour of the alar rim using an alar cinching suture. The cases were followed for a mean of 10 months (range: 4–23 months).

Results: The nasal base reduction and nasal flaring correction were satisfactory in all patients.

Conclusions: The nasal base modification resulted in effective narrowing of the nasal base while eliminating excessive alar flare. The commonly feared complications of alar rim resection were avoided by using a combination of alar rim resection and an alar cinching suture.

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