Nostrilplasty by Manipulating the Dilator Naris Muscles: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine whether a more aesthetically acceptable nostril shape could be created by manipulating the dilator naris muscles. Patients who had round or horizontally shaped nostrils were treated by resecting the dilator naris muscle to attenuate the dilating and lateral pulling effect of the muscles. The resected muscle segments were inserted into the nasal tip area to project the nasal tip. Manipulating the dilator muscle shaped the nostril more vertically and enhanced nasal tip augmentation. The ratio of the short axis to the long axis of the nostril was improved significantly. The interaxial angle became more acute. The patient satisfaction score was also increased. A more aesthetically pleasing nostril shape can be produced by resecting and grafting the dilator naris muscle segments.