ABSTRACT

Nasal surgery requires careful analysis of the patients problems, detailed plan­ ning and meticulous operative technique. Specific nasal problems must be detailed in order to understand the patient s likes and dislikes about the nose. External and internal examinations are necessary to understand the complex three-dimensional anatomy and define the aesthetic and functional problems. Rhinoplasty is a proce­ dure in which subde changes in anatomy often make profound differences in ap­ pearance, making this one of the most challenging yet elegant procedures in the plastic surgery. Although rhinoplasty is a complex procedure, according to the Ameri­ can Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over 350,000 rhinoplasties were performed in the United States in 2003, making it one of the most common cosmetic surgical procedure.