Nasal Skin Thickness Measured Using Computed Tomography and Its Effect on Tip Surgery Outcomes

Abstract

Objective. Skin thickness can be a major factor affecting rhinoplasty outcomes. However, few studies have examined the impact of nasal skin thickness on rhinoplasty aesthetic results. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of nasal skin thickness on the tip surgery outcome objectively. Study Design. Case series with chart review. Setting. Academic tertiary care medical center. Subjects and Methods. The study involved 77 patients who were evaluated using preoperative computed tomography scans and underwent rhinoplasty including tip surgery. Surgical outcomes were classified as excellent, good, or poor. Nasal skin thickness was measured at nasion, rhinion, nasal tip, and columella using computed tomography scans and was analyzed according to surgical outcomes. Results. The mean nasal skin thickness was 3.3 mm for nasion, 2.4 mm for rhinion, 2.9 mm for nasal tip, and 2.3 mm for columella. Postoperative outcomes were classified as excellent in 45, good in 17, and poor in 15 patients. The excellent outcome group had the thinnest nasal tip and columella nasal skin (2.8 mm and 2.2 mm), whereas the poor outcome group had the thickest skin in these regions (3.4 mm and 2.6 mm) ( P < .0001 and P = 0.01, respectively). Conclusion. Nasal skin is thickest over the nasofrontal angle, thins over the rhinion, is thick again in the nasal tip, and thins out over the columella. Thick skin at the nasal tip and columella was associated with poor surgical outcomes. Regional skin thickness appears to be an important prognostic factor for tip surgery success.