Surgical treatment of rhinophyma.
BACKGROUND
Rhinophyma is a slowly progressive, disfiguring disease of the nose. A variety of surgical techniques have been described for its management, which have had varying success.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the technique and results of the senior author (P.B.) using electrocautery decortication and/or CO(2) laser contouring in seven consecutive patients with rhinophyma by retrospective review.


METHODS
A retrospective case series of seven consecutive adult patients treated from 1999 to 2005 inclusive.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted of the seven patients treated at the local tertiary care centre over a 6-year period.


RESULTS
In the seven consecutive patients who were operated on by the senior author, all had been previously diagnosed with acne rosacea. Five patients had moderate and two had major rhinophyma. Five patients (71%) had an excellent or very good result using the described technique.


CONCLUSIONS
Electrocautery nasal decortication and/or CO(2) laser contouring in patients with rhinophyma is an effective technique that results in a satisfied patient with an aesthetically suitable nose. Caution should be exercised when vaporizing tissue in the nasal alar region with a CO(2) laser to prevent postoperative alar retraction.
Kilty
Shaun
S
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Brownrigg
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012224:Rhinophyma / Q000601:surgery*; D012225:Rhinoplasty / Q000379:methods*; D012393:Rosacea / Q000150:complications