Question: Do Osteotomies in Rhinoplasty Narrow Your Bridge?

Answer: Recently, I have been asked several questions about how a hump on the bridge of the nose can be reduced without changing the width of the bridge and if lateral osteotomies are necessary with Rhinoplasty or Revision Rhinoplasty surgery. First, here is a quick clarification on lateral osteotomies. The term osteotomy is derived from Greek and is defined in the medical dictionary as a surgical operation in which a bone is divided or a piece of bone is excised (as to correct a deformity). Lateral, of course, refers to the outer sides of the nose. The more you take down a hump on the nasal dorsum (bridge) by rasping or any other method, the wider the bridge will appear. Think of it as truncating a pyramid; the more you take off at the top, the wider the remaining structure will appear. For that reason, when taking down a large hump, lateral osteotomies are often done so that the bridge does not look wider than before the reduction. This is one of the many reasons why I believe it is important for Rhinoplasty and Revision Rhinoplasty patients to have photos taken when they see me for a consultation. I have the photos computer imaged so that you can get an idea as to your goal for how wide you want your bridge following nasal surgery.

--- Dr. Kridel