While open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty are two separate approaches, in the end, they provide the same long-lasting results for patients. An open rhinoplasty involves making a small incision in the skin between the nostrils, called the columella. This enables your surgeon to lift the skin out of the way and visualize the underlying structure of the nose to begin the procedure. A closed rhinoplasty, on the other hand, only involves incisions inside the nose, so the patient won’t have any visible scarring. Closed rhinoplasties are appropriate for patients that want hump removal or need changes to the nasal tip. While Dr. Porter will have a better view of the nose with an open rhinoplasty, the procedure can leave patients with a small scar underneath their nose. On the other hand, a closed rhinoplasty eliminates scarring but makes the procedure slightly more challenging if more drastic changes are desired. Before deciding on whether or not an open or closed rhinoplasty is appropriate, Dr. Porter performs a full examination on each patient. She will ask them about their treatment goals and take a look at the current structure of their nose to decide which procedure would provide results that align closest with their expectations. In general, patients who are having moderate work done on their nasal bridge can benefit most from closed rhinoplasty, while patients who are having work done on their nasal tip (such as the removal of a malformed or bulbous tip) or other extensive reshaping are best suited for an open rhinoplasty.