For those under 34 years old, nose jobs were the most requested type of plastic surgery in 2023. Even outside of this age group, rhinoplasty is popular since it can completely transform the way your face looks.
You may be one of the many people considering a nose job, and you want to learn more about what the procedure entails. For one, there’s open vs closed rhinoplasty, and some surgeons may perform one or the other.
What’s the difference between open and closed rhinoplasty? Keep reading to learn more on this subject so you can have a productive consultation in the future.
What’s Open Rhinoplasty?
Open rhinoplasty uses a small external incision on the columella, which is the tissue between your nostrils. This leaves a small, typically unnoticeable scar in the area.
An open rhinoplasty procedure allows the surgeon full access to the nasal structures since they can lift the skin off the nose. As a result, they can make precise adjustments with clear visibility.
This makes open rhinoplasty ideal for complex cases like:
- Significant reshaping
- Reconstructive surgery
- Addressing severe asymmetry
For many surgeons, they opt for open rather than closed rhinoplasty.
What’s Closed Rhinoplasty?
Closed rhinoplasty uses incisions inside the nostrils, so you won’t have visible external scars. But since the skin isn’t lifted, this can limit the surgeon’s visibility.
This type of rhinoplasty is primarily used for less complicated reshaping or corrections.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Candidate Suitability
Do you have significant structural issues, complex nasal deformities, or severe asymmetry with your nose? Or are you dissatisfied with the results from a previous rhinoplasty procedure? Then you’re a good candidate for open rhinoplasty.
Otherwise, do you want subtle cosmetic improvements with minimal structural changes? And do you want a faster recovery time? Then you might fare better with closed rhinoplasty.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Surgical Precision
Open rhinoplasty gives surgeons much more room for intricate adjustments to the cartilage, bone, and tissue. As a result, there’s precise correction of complex deformities or asymmetries.
Closed rhinoplasty has slightly limited precision due to restricted visibility. For this reason, it’s usually reserved for patients who need minor changes or contouring.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Complexity
As we’ve mentioned before, open rhinoplasty is for more complex cases and major reshaping. In addition, it’s used for:
- Trauma correction
- Cases needing grafts or implants
- Revision rhinoplasty
Due to its complexity and additional steps (such as skin lifting and exposure of nasal structures), open rhinoplasty typically takes longer to complete.
On the other hand, closed rhinoplasty is preferred for simpler cosmetic changes, such as minor hump or tip corrections. It’s also used for patients with no history of previous rhinoplasty. It’s a quicker procedure since there are no external incisions or extensive dissection required.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Recovery Time
Because it’s more invasive, open rhinoplasty takes slightly longer to recover from, as there’s dissection and tissue lifting. Also, the swelling may take more time to subside, especially at the tip of your nose.
Closed rhinoplasty has a shorter recovery time since the procedure is less invasive. The swelling typically resolves faster too.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Potential Risks
There are more risks and complications associated with open rhinoplasty. There’s a rare chance of visible scarring, as well as a slightly higher chance of prolonged swelling. Plus, the longer surgery time increases your risk of anesthesia-related complications.
But just because closed rhinoplasty isn’t as invasive doesn’t necessarily mean there are fewer risks there. The limited visibility can lead to suboptimal results in more complicated cases. This makes it less ideal for addressing significant structural deformities.
Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty: Cost
In general, open rhinoplasty is more expensive since it involves more steps and has a longer surgical time. However, you’ll see a wide range of prices for both types of rhinoplasty, with an average of $7,637 for the surgery alone. Your final cost will depend on how other services are priced (such as anesthesia and surgeon fees), as well as which surgeon you pick and what location you’re in.
Speaking of location, it’s much cheaper to have rhinoplasty done in Mexico rather than the US. It’s a popular place for medical tourism since there are plenty of flights there, beautiful sights, weather, and culture, and medical care is excellent without high price tags. You can have a wonderful experience as a tourist before getting a nose job with fantastic results.
Which Type of Rhinoplasty Should You Choose?
It’s not a straightforward answer as to which one is right for you, although most surgeons perform open rhinoplasty. With that in mind, here are the things you should consider.
How Complicated Your Case Is
Obviously, you should know by now that if you want major changes, you should go with open rhinoplasty. It gives your surgeon better precision since they have full access to the nasal structures.
Your Recovery Priorities
The wider access that open rhinoplasty offers is a double-edged sword. It’ll take longer to recover, and there’s some scarring that may be visible afterward.
If your priority is a quicker recovery period and no external scars, then closed rhinoplasty is preferable here.
The Surgeon’s Expertise
Some surgeons may specialize in one type over the other. Consult with experienced rhinoplasty surgeons to make sure you get an expert in the type of procedure you’d like. Asking how many successful surgeries they’ve had will give you a
Book an Appointment for Your Nose Job
A surgeon can perform a nose job in one of two ways, so it’s good to know the differences between open vs closed rhinoplasty. After reading this article, you probably have a clearer idea of which you’d prefer, and you feel more confident proceeding in your journey.
The next step is finding a medical professional who can listen to your needs and produce exemplary results when performing your surgery. It should be someone who listens to your vision, provides compassionate care, and won’t overcharge you.
Contact us today if you’d like to get affordable rhinoplasty in Mexico. Dr. Valdez is a top surgeon who will personalize your plan to achieve optimal results.
References:
- Solutions TK ISG, Reconstructiv AA of FP&. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Accessed January 26, 2025. https://www.aafprs.org/
- Raggio BS, Asaria J. Open Rhinoplasty. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed January 26, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546628/
- Steadman J, Catalani B, Sharp C, Cooper L. Life-threatening perioperative anesthetic complications: major issues surrounding perioperative morbidity and mortality. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2017;2(1):e000113. doi:10.1136/tsaco-2017-000113
- Rhinoplasty Cost. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Accessed January 26, 2025. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/rhinoplasty/cost