Importance
The extended columellar strut-tip graft was designed to improve nasal tip projection and tip definition in patients undergoing rhinoplasty.
Objective
To determine whether the extended columellar tip graft leads to a true and measurable increase in nasal tip projection or simply gives the illusion of an increase in projection.
Design
Retrospective case review. The mean time of follow-up photographs was 32 months after surgery (range, 8 months to 10 years).
Participants
The study population comprised 15 patients who underwent primary or revision rhinoplasty during the last 10 years.
Intervention
Primary or revision rhinoplasty.
Main Outcome Measure
The outcome measure was the long-term gain in nasal tip projection. Preoperative and postoperative images were cropped and sized equally for accurate comparison. All measurements were made from the alar-facial crease to the tip defining point.
Results
In all 15 patients, an increase in tip projection was obtained. The mean increase in projection was 19% compared with the preoperative projection. After applying a paired t test for analysis, there was a statistically significant increase in nasal projection (P < .05).
Conclusions and Relevance
The extended columellar strut-tip graft effectively corrected poor nasal tip projection. The effect is maintained years later. The extended columellar strut-tip graft is an excellent choice in endonasal rhinoplasty to improve poor tip projection and definition.
Level of Evidence
4.