Rhinoplasty: creating an aesthetic tip. A preliminary report.

A new approach for creating an anatomically aesthetic nasal tip is presented. It is based on extensive cadaver dissections which demonstrate that a convex domal segment plus a sharp domal segment-lateral crural drop-off are key determinants of a refined tip. This configuration can be achieved with sutures in a manner similar to creating the anthelical curl in an otoplasty. Two operative variations are presented. One achieves tip refinement with a limited increase in projection, while the other provides maximum projection. Currently, the technique is of value in bilateral cleft lip noses, posttraumatic deformities, certain secondary cases, and very selected primary aesthetic cases where tip refinement and projection are limited.