The Nasal Hinge

It is generally agreed that rhinoplasty is the most challenging procedure performed by the facial plastic surgeon. Mastery of nasal tip maneuvers to alter tip projection, rotation, and lobule refinement is intrinsic to successful rhinoplasty technique. The nasal hinge region comprises the most lateral aspect of the lower lateral cartilage. Its importance is often overlooked. As the foundation of the nasal base, it plays a key role in tip dynamics and can be sculpted to significantly modify projection, rotation, and lobule refinement. One hundred randomly selected rhinoplasty patients were studied with respect to the indications for hinge maneuvers, techniques applied, and resulting affect on tip aesthetics. Clinical results are shown. The applicability of these hinge techniques is compared with other lateral crural techniques. The importance of the hinge region in rhinoplasty dynamics and the necessity of knowledgeably applying surgical maneuvers in this region are discussed.