What are the Benefits of Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty?

A rhinoplasty is a general term for any type of surgery that changes the shape of the nose. This includes changing the size of the nose, making the nostrils narrower and repairing a deviated septum. Rhinoplasties may be categorized into open and closed procedures, depending on where the incisions are made.

Overview

A closed rhinoplasty involves the surgeon making incisions within the nose. An open rhinoplasty requires the surgeon to make an initial incision across the strip of tissue separating the nostrils known as the columella. Both types of rhinoplasty have undergone refinements in the 21st century, and both procedures are still commonly performed.

Open Rhinoplasty

An open rhinoplasty allows the surgeon to access the nasal tissue more easily by lifting the skin from the tip of the nose. This approach is most common when the surgeon must make extensive changes to the nose. The external incision into the columella can leave a small scar under the nose, but it also allows the surgeon to shape the cartilage more precisely.

Closed Rhinoplasty

A closed rhinoplasty is a more restrictive procedure because the surgeon must make all the required incisions within the nostrils. It is typically used unless the surgeon cannot perform the needed changes with this approach. The primary advantage of a closed rhinoplasty is that this approach does not leave any external scarring.

Recovery

The external incision of an open rhinoplasty also means this procedure produces more postoperative swelling than a closed rhinoplasty. The recovery time is generally the same for both procedures.