Easy Recognition of Caudal Lower Cartilage Rim Localization for Marginal Incision in Tumescent Rhinoplasty

Abstract

Nasal tumescence with local anesthetics is a technique that allows a complete rhinoplasty without the need of general anesthesia, minimizing the bleeding and optimizing the recovery of the patient. Besides these benefits, the natural distorption of the tissues the tumescent solution creates shows new anatomical landmarks, which is the case of a fold that localizes the lower cartilage rim. This fold is not appreciate in non-tumescent rhinoplasty approach. In this article, we discuss the role of tumescent anesthesia to facilitate the dissection of the lower cartilage rim in the marginal approach through this mentioned fold. This easy location made that complete lower cartilage rim dissection can be completed in a significantly reduced time (p=0.001), but it does not decrease the risk of cartilage injury in an experimented hands.