Learn The Differences Between Reduction and Augmentation Rhinoplasty In Toronto
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure designed to improve aesthetics and airflow of the nose. When you and your surgeon sit down during the consultation to plan out your procedure, one of the first things you will want to establish is whether you are getting a reduction or an augmentation rhinoplasty. Understanding the differences between these approaches will help you make sure your Toronto rhinoplasty experience is tailored to your needs.
Reduction Rhinoplasty
A reduction rhinoplasty in Toronto involves the nasal structure being reduced to promote an enhanced shape. This can sound counter-intuitive at first, but it makes sense if you think about why some noses can be so large. A large nose usually means some combination of thick skin and high levels of cartilage are present. These two features tend to result in drooping or bulbous appearances that reduce the definition of the nose’s actual structure.
Shaving or sculpting this tissue gives the main nasal structure better definition and stronger appearance. Reduction rhinoplasties do not normally need to make use of grafts or implants. Most of the time, the existing cartilage and bone can be shaped on its own to produce an aesthetically pleasing result.
If grafts are needed, excess cartilage from your own nose can be used instead. Other common targets during augmentation rhinoplasty are narrowing the nasal bones, reducing tip projection, or reducing the alar base to narrow wide nostrils. Reduction rhinoplasties are more common among European or Persian individuals. The latter trend towards excess tissue along the tip that produces a drooping or hooked appearance along with a dorsal hump that are frequent targets for reduction procedures.
Augmentation Rhinoplasty
Augmentation focuses on building up the nasal bridge or tip to provide a stronger profile or to address drooping. Since the focus of augmentation is building up a nose that may not have enough structure on its own, grafts or synthetic implants are more likely to be employed than in reduction rhinoplasties.
Augmentation rhinoplasties are more likely among patients of African American or Asian descent due to some of the features common to those ancestries. African American features trend towards lower bridges and weaker cartilage along the tip, which means grafts are more likely to be needed to support new structures. Asian individuals smaller nasal bones and low levels of cartilage, making nasal grafts or bridge support common elements in their procedures.
Mixed Procedures
The nose is a three-dimensional structure and changes in one part often impact the appearance of other elements. It is not uncommon in Toronto rhinoplasties to use a mixture of reduction and augmentation elements to produce a more harmonious outcome. It is possible for a procedure to involve raising the bridge, removing excess tissue to reduce a bulbous tip, and using a graft to increase tip projection. In some cases, augmentation techniques can accomplish reduction goals. For example, building the upper part of the nasal bridge can actually make the lower portion and tip appear narrower.