The external shaving technique in aesthetic rhinoplasty.

External shaving is an accepted technique in the treatment of rhinophyma. The application of external shaving to aesthetic rhinoplasty is also valuable in the treatment of a thick, sebaceous nasal tip that does not respond to standard reduction rhinoplasty. External shaving will reduce the thickness of the nasal tip skin and enhance tip definition. Fifty consecutive patients undergoing external shaving were followed over a 5-year period. The majority of the cases were secondary rhinoplasties. The results reveal a very high success rate, with one significant complication, a hypertrophic scar, and two minor complications. Proper diagnosis, patient selection, and surgical technique produce predictable and favorable aesthetic results.