OPEN RHINOPLASTY - COLUMELLAR SCAR ANALYSIS IN AN ARABIAN POPULATION

This prospective study included 50 consecutive Saudi Arabian patients who underwent open rhinoplasty. All patients had a minimum follow-up o f 1 year after surgery. The columellar scar tvas assessed objectively and subjectively at the final followup. An unsatisfactory scar was con sidered present if anything other than a barely visible, level, and th in-line scar without notching was evident. Objectively, 39 patients (7 8 percent) were considered to have a satisfactory columellar scar. The percentage of unsatisfactory scars (22 percent) was higher than expec ted prior to performing the study, and one patient was actually consci ous about the deformity. Causes and prevention of unsatisfactory colum ellar scars were discussed.