Alarplasty, also known as alar base reduction, is a surgical procedure that is aimed at altering the shape and width of the nostrils. People of certain ethnicities often choose to have the procedure to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing nose that appears in better balance with the rest of the facial features. Alarplasty or nostril reduction can be performed independently or combined with a rhinoplasty. The nose is the central part of our face and dominates our facial features. Although there are different ideas about the aesthetic of the ideal nose, many would agree that an aesthetically pleasing nose appears straight with a small rounded tip and nostrils that are in proportion with the overall size of the nose. Many people may not have such desirable features, including those with nostrils that are too wide or too small or appear asymmetrical. Alarplasty could be an ideal procedure to improve symmetry and contour the shape of the nostrils. The procedure is often combined with a tip plasty or mini nose job to refine the tip of the nose.
What are the benefits of an alarplasty?
If you find you are dissatisfied with how your nostrils look, an alarplasty could improve the appearance of your nose without the need for a more invasive rhinoplasty procedure. Alarplasty is a quicker procedure to perform and often requires only a local anaesthetic, and involves a shorter recovery period. Patients can expect to achieve symmetrical nostrils, a better facial balance and an improvement in the size and width of the nostrils. Recovery after alarplasty surgery is quick and straightforward, with minimal risks.
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Am I suitable for alarplasty?
Alarplasty is not designed to dramatically change the appearance of your nose but to improve a certain aspect of it. Many people may not notice you have had a surgical alarplasty to alter the size of your nostrils.
Patients often consider having alarplasty surgery to improve the size and shape of their nostrils even though they are happy with the overall appearance of their noses. Surgery may also be requested for nostrils that appear to narrow or too wide compared to other facial features. Some people may have nostril asymmetry, with one side significantly larger than the other. When people smile, they may notice their nostrils appearing wider due to nostrils flaring. People should be in overall good health and ideally be a non-smoker. Being unhappy with how their nostrils look is the most common reason people seek an alarplasty in London.
This is Surgery is only suitable for people over the age of 18 as the nose will still be undergoing active growth and development before this time. If your nostrils’ appearance affects your self-confidence and how you feel in social situations, contact us to arrange a detailed consultation with an expert nose reshaping surgeon.
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Alarplasty surgical procedure
Alarplasty is performed using a local anaesthetic when it is not combined with other surgical procedures and takes no more than 60 minutes to carry out. The procedure involves making an incision in the area where the cheek joins the nostril in the skin crease. The Surgeon will then remove a wedge of soft tissue located at the alar base, followed by the closure of the incision with dissolvable stitches. The type of incision performed will differ between patients depending on the existing size and shape of the nostrils and a patient’s treatment goals. The scar of an alarplasty is well hidden in the natural crease of the nose, which means any visible scarring is minimal.
Recovery after alarplasty
It takes no more than one to 2 weeks to recover from alarplasty surgery. Any bruising or swelling will rapidly disappear after two weeks. Most patients can carry out their normal daily activities the next day. Any non-dissolvable stitches will need to be removed by one of our post-operative nurses at your review appointment one week after surgery. Most people will be left with a barely noticeable scar that is hidden in the crease where the nostril connects to the cheek. This scar will continue to fade over time into a faint white line. People choose this procedure due to the quick and straightforward recovery, which makes alarplasty an extremely popular nose reshaping procedure at Centre for Surgery.
How much does alarplasty cost?
The price of alarplasty will be determined by the extent of surgical correction required and whether the procedure is combined with a Rhinoplasty. Once you have consulted with your surgeon, your dedicated patient coordinator will give you an accurate quotation which includes your surgeon’s, anaesthetist’s, and facility fees. The cost of the postoperative assessments is also included in the alarplasty cost.
Is alarplasty permanent?
The results of alarplasty surgery are considered permanent, although the natural ageing process can change how the nose appears over time.
How to choose the best alarplasty surgeon for nostril reduction?
Choosing the right surgeon to perform your alarplasty procedure is the most important decision you will need to make to get the best outcome. Your surgeon’s experience, skills and training should be considered when deciding on the best surgeon for alarplasty. Although cost is an important consideration, we believe it should not be your only factor in making a decision. Cheap surgery often has a high risk of producing optimal results, costing more in the long run with significant stress and anxiety. This excludes the extra time which people often have to take off work to have corrective surgery.
Why choose Centre for Surgery for alarplasty?
Centre for Surgery is the leading cosmetic surgery clinic in London. Our surgeons have many years of experience in carrying out all types of nose surgery, including alarplasty to improve the shape of size of the nostrils.
