• The platyrrhine nose is characterized by a hypoplastic nonprojected nasal tip, wide flaring alae, underdeveloped premaxilla, and lack of nasal dorsal support. Aesthetic nasal reconstruction is performed utilizing the external rhinoplasty technique. Precise placement of nasal augmentation grafts is facilitated by this technique. The harvesting and utilization of a large autogenous nasal fibrofatty graft for finesse dorsal contouring is described. Seventy-five patients underwent aesthetic reconstruction of the platyrrhine nose. Follow-up ranged from 2 to 7 years. No major complications, including extrusion or significant resorption of augmentation grafts, have been observed. Minor complications included notching of the transverse columella incision in 5% (4/75) of cases, observable suture tract marks along the alar closure incision in 4% (3/75) of cases, and alar incision granuloma in 1% (1/75). A modification of our technique, utilizing a two-layer tension-free closure of the columella and alar incisions, has alleviated these complications.
(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1992;118:837-841)