Open vs. Closed Rhinoplasty in Manhattan: Which to Choose?

by Dr. Steven Wallach

If you go to an initial consultation with a rhinoplasty surgeon, you may be asked whether you prefer an open or closed rhinoplasty technique. While you might find these terms difficult to understand we, at the Aesthetic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery clinic, make it a point to help you understand so that you can make an informed choice on your Manhattan rhinoplasty.

Open or Closed What?

So what does an open or closed rhinoplasty mean? These surgical terms actually refer to the access method used when facilitating entry of the skeletal framework while removing nasal skin at the same time. Read on as we compare the two techniques below!

Closed Rhinoplasty — Endonasal Approach

This approach involves incisions made inside the nostrils which in turn will result in no visible scarring. However, since both the incisions of the right and left nostrils do not meet and remain disconnected, the rhinoplasty surgeon ends up doing the procedure with limited visibility. Certain surgical limitations of closed rhinoplasty is one of the reasons why Dr. Wallach prefers the open rhinoplasty technique.

Open Rhinoplasty –External Approach As opposed to the two separate incisions made in the closed approach, the open rhinoplasty technique uses a tiny bridging incision, also known as a transcolumellar incision, to connect the incisions from the left and right nostrils. Apart from providing full visibility of the entire nasal area to work on, the entire nasal cartilage is less likely to be damaged due to wide surgical access.

For Dr. Wallach, the best analogy to using a closed approach is like working on a car engine with your hands under the hood and not looking directly at what you are fixing, and the open approach is like working on the car engine with the hood open and you can see everything that you are working on. Most surgeons feel that with this better exposure, more precise and accurate work can be done, and Dr. Wallach agrees.

For more information about Dr. Wallach and his success with Manhattan plastic surgery, contact our Manhattan office at (212) 861-6400 or by mail at 1049 5th Avenue, Suite 2D in New York, NY 10028. You can also fill out this contact form to request additional details. We look forward to hearing from you!