Rhinoplasty, or nose job as known among society, is a plastic surgical operation that is carried out in order to enhance the aesthetical structure of the nose. Although the procedure is considered a plastic surgical operation, it may have side benefits, such as the ability to breathe better. People that want to have a rhinoplasty operation usually do so because:

  • They think their nose seems too wide for their face.
  • Their nose is crooked or asymmetrical.
  • They have a bump on the bridge of the nose.
  • Their nostrils are flared or pinched.
  • They are not happy with their nose tip, due to reasons such as bulbous, drooping, or oversized nasal tip.
  • They think their nose is either too small or too big for their face, and they want a more proportional nose.

There are two main methods that are used for rhinoplasty; open and closed rhinoplasty. While these two methods don’t differ greatly in terms of their goals, the difference between these two techniques is mostly focused on the capabilities your surgeon has during these operations. There are pros and cons of both of these operations, as we will mention in this article. But first, it is important to understand that whether you will undergo an open or a closed rhinoplasty operation is not as important or by whom your operation will be carried out since both of these techniques are efficient and safe. Deciding on whether an open or a closed operation you will have is far less important than which surgeon you will have your nose job done, or where you will have the operation.

Open Rhinoplasty

An open nose job is the rhinoplasty technique in which an incision is opened between nostrils, below the nose tip. This type of rhinoplasty offers important advantages, in terms of wider sight, easier intervention, and more precise corrections. Open rhinoplasty allows the surgeon to precisely see the individual anatomy of the patient’s nose, and make changes according to this. Open rhinoplasty can be said to be more popular than closed rhinoplasty, due to these advantages. Most patients worry about the swelling and scar after the surgery, when considering an open nose job. But would not be wrong to say that, the area that the incision is opened, is one of the best areas in the face that is able to heal completely when considering the structure of the face and skin. If closed correctly by an expert, it is almost certain that the incision scar will be invisible to the eye four to six months after the surgery. We can list down the pros and cons of open rhinoplasty shortly like this:

  • An open rhinoplasty allows the surgeon to see and move more precisely, resulting in a much more satisfactory operation.
  • An open rhinoplasty allows the surgeon to make even the smallest changes in the structure, and create the closest result to the perfect.
  • In some cases, your surgeon may require to place graftings, and in that case, an open rhinoplasty will make it easier for the surgeon to place these graftings much more accurately.
  • After an open nose job, there is usually slightly more pain and swelling, compared to the closed rhinoplasty. But the difference is not that much between these two operations, in terms of swelling and pain. And since the swellings usually start to slowly disappear after a week, it will not be that important after the recovery period.
  • Although the incision scar heals completely and becomes invisible to the eye, there might last slight scars in some cases, when the incision is not closed the right way, for example.

Closed Rhinoplasty

A closed nose job is considered a less efficient technique by most experts, but it also has its advantages. In a closed rhinoplasty, the surgeon opens incisions in the nostrils and operates the surgery through these incisions. But doing so restricts the surgeon’s sight and movement capabilities inside the nose because of the placement of the incisions. Most candidates that choose close rhinoplasty do so because they worry about the scar outside of the nose, after an open nose job. But as mentioned above, usually, there aren’t any scars after the recovery is completed. Another reason that leads candidates to choose closed rhinoplasty is that after a closed nose job surgery, there is slightly less swelling and pain. As also mentioned above, this situation only lasts during the recovery process, and from the perspective of a professional, it is definitely worth coping with more swelling and pain for way better results and higher success rates. We can list down the pros and cons of closed rhinoplasty shortly as:

  • Closed rhinoplasty leaves no scars because the incisions are inside the nostrils.
  • After the surgery, there is slightly less swelling and pain during the recovery process.
  • Closed rhinoplasty can be useful for very slight changes and corrections, since it is a ‘’lighter’’ operation compared to open rhinoplasty.
  • Closed rhinoplasty restricts the surgeon’s inside sight and movement highly.
  • This technique is considered a ‘’restricting’’ and ‘’useless’’ compared to open rhinoplasty, by some experts.

Reduction and Reconstruction – Do They Affect Your Decision?

A rhinoplasty surgery either aims for a reduction or a reconstruction. While reduction means only corrections and reductions, reducing the nose bridge, for example, is an easier task for the surgeon to fulfill, compared to reconstruction. Reconstruction may even require breaking down several bone structures and restructuring them, which means it is a way harder, and a way more painful situation. While a closed nose job may fulfill the requirements of a reduction procedure, it is usually insufficient to fulfill the needs of a reconstruction operation. The advantages that open rhinoplasty surgery offers are much more valuable when it comes to reconstruction. So, it is important, and even inevitable sometimes, to have open rhinoplasty surgery, if there are lots of changes to make. 

Necessity of Open Operation in Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Ethnic rhinoplasty, a specific type of rhinoplasty that aims to enhance the ethnic heritage structure of the nose, alongside enhancing the overall look and reaching a more aesthetic nose, requires rib cartilage processing, which means the operation can not be done through incisions in the nostrils. This means ethnic rhinoplasty can only be done with the open nose job technique.

What is A Rib Cartilage (Processing)?

A rib cartilage processing means grafting or sculpting the nasal cartilage. Rib cartilage allows a broad or wide nostril shape to transform into a more oval-shaped nostril, by increasing the length of the short columella.

Does Your Ethnic Heritage or Skin Color Affect Whether You Should Have An Open or A Closed Nose Job?

Some candidates are concerned that their skin color or ethnic heritage will have an impact on their decision. The simple answer to the question is no, a person’s ethnic heritage or skin color does not affect anything at all, whether they are going to have an open or a closed nose job. Only ethnic rhinoplasty makes such a restriction. Because rib cartilage can not be done through incisions inside the nostrils, the operation can only be done using the open rhinoplasty technique.