Alar lift: Sail excision technique for alar overhanging in the Middle Eastern Nose

ImportanceThe alar rim has been a neglected part of the nose in rhinoplasty procedures. Excessive alar overhanging is not uncommon to be seen while performing rhinoplasty and sail excision technique has a role in this deformity.ObjectiveThe sail excision technique idea is that the hanging ala can be lifted via the removal of a piece of triangular vestibular skin shaped like a sail. Due to the frequency and esthetic importance of this deformity to the patients we evaluated this technique.MethodsThe sail excision technique is described in detail. Quantitative analysis of excision parameters was performed using statistical analysis.ResultsSurvey responses were received from 24 patients. Patient satisfaction was recorded by a score from 0 to 10, with 0 being the least satisfied by the result of surgery and 10 being the highest satisfaction. The minimum satisfaction score was 5 and the maximum was 9 with a mean of 7.41.ConclusionsThe greatest advantage of this technique is that all of the incisions were placed in the vestibular skin thus hiding the scars into the depth of the normal alar rim.Level of evidence VEvidence from systematic reviews of descriptive and qualitative studies.