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Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 5/2024

31-05-2023 | Rhinoplasty | Original Article

A New Definition for Alar Flare Based on “Alar Flare Angle”

Authors: Xiancheng Wang, Quanding Yan, Zhihua Qiao, Yiwen Deng, Chunjie Li, Yang Sun, Xiang Xiong, Xianxi Meng, Wenbo Li, Zhongjie Yi, Borong Fang

Published in: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery | Issue 5/2024

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Abstract

Background

An accurate diagnosis and an appropriate treatment are important parts of successful rhinoplasty. We proposed a new definition for alar flares to guide our clinical work.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with alar flares from July 2017 to July 2021, and the follow-up time ranged from 12 to 27 months, mean of 16 months. We defined the alar flare angle by the formation of two lines: the line that connects the alar to the alar root point and line that connects the alar to the pronasale. The alar flare angle, interalar distance and nasal base width were measured, and alar wedge excision or alar base excision and tip elevation were performed. Scars, complications and satisfaction scales were evaluated after surgery. Through an analysis of the database, we found that the ideal alar flare angle was between 130 degrees and 140 degrees. If it was less than 130 degrees, it represented alar flares, and patients asked for alar surgery.

Results

A total of 33 patients were included. All patients underwent tip elevation, 12 patients underwent external alar wedge excision, and 5 patients underwent external alar wedge excision and alar base excision. External alar wedge excision can be used to completely correct alar flares, and in our study, the alar flare angles were more than 130 degrees after surgery. One patient complained of an acceptable scar, and there was no infection or alar deformity. All patients were satisfied.

Conclusions

We proposed a new definition in which an alar flare angle less than 130 degrees can be diagnosed as an alar flare. This new definition is valuable for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of alar flares.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.​springer.​com/​00266.
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Metadata
Title
A New Definition for Alar Flare Based on “Alar Flare Angle”
Authors
Xiancheng Wang
Quanding Yan
Zhihua Qiao
Yiwen Deng
Chunjie Li
Yang Sun
Xiang Xiong
Xianxi Meng
Wenbo Li
Zhongjie Yi
Borong Fang
Publication date
31-05-2023
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery / Issue 5/2024
Print ISSN: 0364-216X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-5241
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-023-03396-x

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