Some cosmetic and functional nasal surgeries can be done without an external nasal incision. This is called an endonasal rhinoplasty, and a key advantage to this surgery aside from the absence of an external incision is a faster healing time. Because the nasal columella, the part of the nose that is cut during an open rhinoplasty, is preserved, this serves as a conduit for fluid exit from the nasal tip, so there is less post-surgical swelling and a faster recovery. Another advantage to this approach is that because less anatomy is encountered, there is less internal scarring when performed by experienced hands.

As less of the anatomy is seen during this approach, not every rhinoplasty surgeon is comfortable with endonasal rhinoplasty.  Certain areas of the nose, such as the tip, are more difficult to address with an endonasal rhinoplasty without compromising the result, so only an in person consultation with a detailed exploration of the patient’s goals and anatomy can determine if you are a candidate for this surgery.