Open vs closed rhinoplasty: What’s best for you?

Before considering whether an open or closed rhinoplasty is best in your case, it’s important to understand what rhinoplasty is. Rhinoplasty, also called nose job or nose reshaping, comprehends a series of surgical procedures that aim to change the shape of your nose. While most nose jobs are performed for aesthetic purposes, rhinoplasty can also have medical benefits, including improved breathing.

What is rhinoplasty and how does it work?

If you are unhappy with the shape of your nose or need to repair deformities from an injury, a rhinoplasty might help you change the size, proportions or shape of your nose.

The first step is to talk with your surgeon about your expectations and discuss whether a rhinoplasty would work well for you. During the consultation, you will likely discuss your medical history, including previous surgeries, any medications you’re taking, or disorders you might have. This step is very important to confirm your eligibility for the procedure and set realistic expectations of what can be achieved.

After the consultation, you will run some medical tests, including blood tests, to assess your overall health. Your surgeon will also examine your facial features and determine what changes need to be made. The aim is to enhance your natural beauty and the harmony of your face.

Once all tests are done, the procedure will be scheduled. A nose job is typically an outpatient procedure, so you won’t have to stay overnight at our clinic. On the day of surgery, you will be sedated to avoid any discomfort or pain during the operation. Recovery time depends on the type of nose job performed and you will be advised on the post-op guidelines to follow.

There are different types of rhinoplasty that can be performed, depending on the aim of the procedure and the structures of your nose. No matter the type of nose job, the surgeon will either perform an open or a closed rhinoplasty. These two techniques allow access to the nose in different ways. We are going to explain the differences between these two techniques below.

What is an open rhinoplasty?

During an open rhinoplasty, also called an external rhinoplasty, the surgeon performs a single incision beneath the nose on the underside between the nostrils. This way, the nose is opened up and the surgeon has the possibility to see the anatomy underneath.

What is a closed rhinoplasty?

During a closed, or endonasal, rhinoplasty, the surgeon performs the incisions only inside your nostrils and will operate from the inside of your nose.

Open rhinoplasty: Advantages

During an open rhinoplasty, the surgeon has a more comprehensive visualisation of the outer structure of your nose, including both cartilage and bone. This way, any asymmetry or abnormalities are clearly visible. For this reason, the open rhinoplasty allows for more precision while performing the necessary changes. Moreover, where a graft is necessary, an open rhinoplasty allows for more accuracy when placing the grafts, providing more long-term support and structure.

Open rhinoplasty: Disadvantages

An open rhinoplasty has a higher risk of leaving a visible scar where the incision is made. It is important to also mention that in most cases the scar heals very well, thus becoming virtually invisible.

Another disadvantage for open rhinoplasty that is often cited is that the healing time and swelling are longer compared to closed rhinoplasty. This is due to the greater number of incisions. Depending on each individual case, however, the advantages of an open rhinoplasty might outweigh its downsides, as the extra swelling will eventually subside.

Closed rhinoplasty: Advantages

One of the main advantages of a closed rhinoplasty is that incisions are not visible. As incisions are made inside your nostrils, no scar will be visible once you’re healed. Moreover, there are less incisions than an open rhinoplasty, allowing for shorter operating time. A closed rhinoplasty is typically preferred when the amount of work to be done is minimal.

As mentioned previously, you will also have less swelling during the recovery period.

Closed rhinoplasty: Disadvantages

As the anatomy of the nose is not fully exposed, a closed rhinoplasty does not provide the visibility or access for detailed and accurate enhancements of bone, cartilage, or both. For this reason, this procedure is technically more difficult as the surgeon is operating from the inside out.

Getting your nose job done at KCM Clinic

While there are advantages and disadvantages for both open and closed rhinoplasty, no procedure can be considered better than the other. At KCM Clinic, our team of highly experienced professionals will evaluate what technique will work best in each individual case. When you get in touch with us, one of our patient coordinators will contact you back to ask a few questions about your overall health, your desired outcomes, and a few pictures of your nose. This will already help our surgeon understand what procedure you might need and what enhancements might need to be done. Our doctors will tailor the operation to the needs of the patient.

If you want to receive more information on prices, you can check our price list here. If you are already planning on having a consultation with us, contact us anytime! We’re happy to help.

Revision rhinoplasty

Just as the name suggests, revision rhinoplasty aims to revise a nose job that was carried out before. Patients who seek a revision rhinoplasty are usually unhappy with the appearance, the functionality (or both) provided by the first surgery.