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Announcement
"Patients' Choice Award" by Vitals.com
Dr. Sam Naficy has been awarded the "Patients' Choice Award" by Vitals.com - a website dedicated to rating the quality of physicians across the country. Out of 720,000 physicians, only 5% received this honor.
Rhinoplasty Terminology
Ala - the skin along the sides of the nose, near the nostril
Alar - relating to the ala
Alae - plural of Ala
Alar base - where the nostrils meet the upper lip
Alar base reduction - a surgical step in rhinoplasty to narrow excessively wide nostrils
Alar facial sulcus - where the nostrils (alae) meet the side of the cheek
Alar groove - the continuation of the alar facial sulcus running parallel to the nostril margin toward the tip of the nose.
Alar margin - the lower margin of the ala, forming the side entrance to the nostrils
Alar notch - see alar retraction
Alar retraction - notching or undesirable elevation of the nostril margin which results in excessive columellar show, may be the result of excessive cartilage removal during rhinoplasty
Alloderm - a type of natural graft used in rhinoplasty to smooth out the bridge of the nose
Batten - a type of graft (typically made from cartilage) used during rhinoplasty to provide structural support
Bifid - term used to describe a situation where there is a distinct midline groove such as a bifid tip or a bifid columella. This feature can be corrected with rhinoplasty.
Bone - the upper third of the nasal framework is made of nasal bones
Bossae - sharp twists or bends in cartilage that may be visible through thin nasal skin and sometimes appear after rhinoplasty
Bridge - section of nose running from forehead to the tip of the nose
Cartilage - the moderately firm yet pliable material of the middle and lower thirds of the nose and the septum
Columella - the visible portion of the partition between the two nostrils
Columellar show - the amount of the nostril partition that may be seen on the side view, ideally no more than 3-5 mm
Columellar Strut - a graft (typically made of septal cartilage) used during rhinoplasty to support and strengthen the columella, thus providing support and stability to the nasal tip
Concave - caving inward
Convex - caving outward
Costal - relating to rib; costal cartilage graft = rib cartilage graft
Deviated - crooked or not straight. Rhinoplasty term used to describe abnormalities of nasal structures
Deviated septum - a septum that is not midline. It may be tilted to one side or it may have a bend within it. A deviated septum should be fixed during a rhinoplasty.
Dome - the curve in the nasal tip cartilages that define the shape of the nasal tip. For example, in a nose with a wide tip, the domes are typically large and wide.
Dorsum - the bridge of the nose
Dorsal - referring to dorsum
Dorsal hump - a convexity on the bridge (or dorsum) of the nose, typically made up of cartilage and bone
Dorsal reduction - a step in rhinoplasty to remove a hump from the bridge of the nose
Endonasal rhinoplasty - older technique of rhinoplasty with limited visualization of nasal anatomy
External nasal valve - defined by the angle between the nasal septum and the lower lateral cartilages (LLC)
Gore-Tex - a type of synthetic implant used in rhinoplasty, typically for reconstruction of the nasal bridge in revision rhinoplasty
Graft - term used to describe natural structural material used during rhinoplasty. The most common types of grafting material in rhinoplasty include cartilage (from the septum, ear, or rib), bone (from the nose, rib, or skull), and soft tissue (Alloderm, fascia)
Groove - a depression or valley in the contour of the nose
Hump - a convexity (bump) over the bridge of the nose
Hanging columella - a term used to describe excessive columellar show
Implant - term used to describe synthetic structural material used during rhinoplasty. The most common types of implant material in rhinoplasty include Gore-Tex, Medpor, and Silicone.
Internal nasal valve - typically the narrowest portion of the nasal passages, this is an angle defined by the fusion of the nasal septum and the upper lateral cartilages (ULC)
Lower lateral cartilages - paired cartilages that make up the tip of the nose (Acronym LLC)
Nasal bones - paired bones that make up the firm upper third of the nasal skeleton
Nasal sill - a small shelf of skin separating the upper lip from the nostril
Nasal tip - the tip of the nose whose structure is determined by the shape of the paired lower lateral cartilages (LLC)
Nasal valve - internal and external nasal valves are vital in nasal airway function
Nasion - the point where the nose separates from the forehead, ideally at the level of the crease of the upper eyelid
Nasofrontal angle - the angle between the nose and the forehead
Nasolabial angle - the angle between the nose and the upper lip
Nostrils - paired openings in the nose where air passes
Open rhinoplasty - advanced rhinoplasty technique allowing excellent visualization of nasal structures
Osteotomy - controlled cuts made in nasal bones during rhinoplasty to allow reshaping of previously broken bones, a wide nose, or twisted nasal bones
Osteotomies - plural of osteotomy
Quadrangular cartilage - portion of the nasal septum made up of cartilage
Projection - term used by rhinoplasty surgeons to define how far out the nose extends away from the plane of the face.
Radix - term used to describe the root of the nose (similar to nasion)
Rasp - instrument used to shave bone during rhinoplasty
Rhinion - the point on the nasal bridge where the bone and the cartilage meet, also where the nasal skin is typically the thinnest
Rib graft - when cartilage from the chest (rib) is used to rebuild the bridge of the nose, typically in revision rhinoplasty
Rotation - term used by rhinoplasty surgeons to define the angle between the upper lip and the nose (see nasolabial angle). For example, a droopy nose has a narrow nasolabial angle and requires additional rotation (upward tilt) to be more aesthetically pleasing. Conversely, an overly upturned nose has a wide nasolabial angle and requires de-rotation (downward tilt) to be more aesthetically pleasing.
Septal - relating to the septum
Septum - a midline partition between the right and left nasal cavities made of cartilage and bone
Septoplasty - surgical correction of a deviated septum, often performed at the same time as rhinoplasty
Sinuses - Air-filled chambers inside the bones of the head with narrow openings into the sides of the nose
Sinus surgery - surgical procedure, typically done through the nostrils, that helps further open up the natural opening of the sinuses into the back of the nose
Splint - a rigid supporting dressing used in rhinoplasty to help maintain the desired shape during healing
Spreader graft - a type of cartilage graft used in rhinoplasty to strengthen the nasal bridge and to improve function of the internal nasal valve
Strut - a type of cartilage graft used in rhinoplasty to strengthen or straighten another structure
Supratip - the region just above the tip of the nose
Supratip depression - a small dip, considered aesthetically pleasing, just above the tip of the nose
Sidewall - the sides of the nose above the alar groove. There is a cartilagenous sidewall and a bony sidewall
Tip - general term used to describe the nasal tip
Turbinate - Multiple paired shelves (3 on each side of the nose) of bone covered with mucous membranes inside the nose that humidify, filter, and warm the inspired air. When excessively large, the turbinates can cause nasal obstruction.
Upper lateral cartilages - paired triangular cartilages, extending from under the nasal bones above to the upper edge of the lower lateral cartilages (LLC) below, and to the nasal septum in the midline (Acronym ULC)
Vestibule - the opening to the inside of the nose, covered with thin skin containing hair
Vestibular - relating to the vestibule
Vibrasie - hairs on the vestibular skin
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