The Destination for Alar Rim Lowering! VIBE Plastic Surgery Gifts You Naturally Beautiful Nostrils :D

* Basic Information

# Female in her 30s

# Previous Rhinoplasty History: 1 time

# Current Condition & Main Concerns: I have always had severe ‘dragon nostrils,’ and even after my previous nose surgery, they remained prominent. I want to improve this.

* Consultation

# This is a case of ‘alar retraction,’ where the nostrils appear pinched or pulled upward. It often gives an artificial or unnatural look, making correction necessary.

# As the patient mentioned having severe dragon nostrils from the start, her alar cartilage itself was quite thin and small.

# Since a significant amount of correction was required, we planned to use both ear skin and cartilage to sufficiently lower the rim.

# If you are considering alar rim lowering, you should make your choice after fully understanding the following advantages and limitations.

Advantages of Alar Rim Lowering!1. No splint required.2. No nasal packing (cotton) needed.3. No taping required. -> Therefore, results are visible immediately after surgery, and recovery is fast without noticeable dressings. Limitations of Alar Rim Lowering?! 1. 100% symmetry between the left and right nostrils is difficult to achieve. 2. The horizontal width may slightly increase after surgery. 3. The grafted cartilage may be slightly visible when viewed from below. 4. The texture may feel a bit firmer. 5. The area where the ear cartilage was harvested may fold slightly (though it is barely noticeable).

* Surgical Plan

# Alar Rim Lowering

- Composite graft of ear cartilage and skin

* Post-operative Progress

# Patient satisfaction is high because the correction can be performed relatively simply, without external scarring, using only incisions inside the nostrils. The photos above show the patient before and 2 weeks after surgery. Can you see how there is almost no swelling or bruising despite only 2 weeks having passed? The incredibly fast recovery is a major advantage!

# Surgical methods vary depending on the degree of retraction. In mild cases, correction is possible through lower lateral cartilage suturing or simple cartilage grafting. However, in moderate to severe cases, cartilage grafting alone has limits, so a composite graft including skin tissue is necessary for a satisfying result.

# In this patient’s case, a skin-cartilage composite graft was performed. To ensure no change in ear shape or visible scarring after harvesting the graft, careful consideration is required during the design phase. Therefore, the graft was harvested from the innermost part of the ear to keep the scar as inconspicuous as possible.

# The overall nose shape and impression have become softer, and the nostrils have been corrected to a satisfying level of symmetry.

Consultations and surgeries should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon!

The ‘VIBE’ that comes from rich experience.

Dr. Yoo Young-moon, Representative Director of VIBE Plastic Surgery

VIBE Plastic Surgery complies with all medical laws. These before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions with the patient’s consent. Complications and side effects such as bleeding, inflammation, infection, and asymmetry may occur depending on the individual, so caution is advised.