title: An alternate strategy for reducing the large nasal base.
abstract: The position of the dorsum directly influences the apparent size of the nasal base: the higher the bridge, the smaller the nasal base seems. This powerful optical illusion provides the surgeon with an alternate strategy for creating harmony in the nose with a low, straight dorsum and a disproportionately large nasal base. Instead of reducing the lower nose, the surgeon can augment the upper nose (and make whatever nasal base changes are independently necessary). This alternate strategy limits the amount of nasal skeletal reduction necessary, thereby limiting the potential for postoperative change and soft-tissue distortion and directly increasing the surgeon's control over the result.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery (Plastic Surgery), Nashua Memorial Hospital, N.H.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Constantian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery*; D009903:Optical Illusions; D012086:Reoperation; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*