Management of Upper Lateral Cartilages (ULCs) in Rhinoplasty

BACKGROUND: Handling of upper lateral cartilages (ULCs) is of prime importance in rhinoplasty. This study presents the experiences among 2500 cases of rhinoplasty in the past 10 years for managing of ULCs to minimize unwilling results of the shape and functional problems of the nose. METHODS: All cases of rhinoplasties were done by the same surgeon from 2002 to 2013. Management of ULCs changed from resection to preserving the ULCs and to enhance their structural and functional roles. The techniques were spreader grafts, suturing of ULC together at the level or above the septum, using ULCs as auto-spreader flaps and very rarely trimming of ULCs unilaterally or bilaterally for making symmetric dorsal aesthetic lines. Fifty cases were operated based on this classification. Most cases were in type II and III. There were 7 cases in type I and 8 cases in type IV. RESULTS: Among most cases, the results were satisfactory although there were 8 cases for revision and among them, 2 cases had some fullness on dorsum and supra-tip because of inappropriate judgment on keeping the relationship between dorsum and tip. The problems in the shape and airways role of the nose reduced dramatically and a useful algorithm was presented. CONCLUSION: ULCs have great important roles in shape and function of nose. Preserving methods to keep these structures are of importance in surgical treatments of primary rhinoplasties. The presented algorithm helps to manage the ULCs in different anatomic types of the noses especially for surgeons who are in learning curve period.