Alarplasty Gold Coast & Brisbane

What is an Alarplasty Procedure?

Alarplasty, Alaplasty or Ala Surgery is a surgical procedure performed with the purpose of reducing wide flaring nostrils by removing a small amount of nasal tissue from the outer area of the nose. Also known as the alar base reduction procedure, this procedure reduces the size of your nostrils.

The outer area of your nose or the alar (alae plural) is the fleshy part of your nose that connects the nostrils to the face. Their shape and structure contribute to the shape of the lower nose and hence, the shape of your entire face. The frontal view of your face can change depending on the definition and shape of the nostrils.

Am I a Suitable Candidate for an Alarplasty Procedure?

Alarplasty surgery is a great option for those who prefer to change the shape of their nostrils. However, at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery there are certain criteria you need to fulfil before you can be even considered for the procedure. You may be eligible for an alarplasty surgery if:

• You have flared nostrils as a result of your genetics
• You have flared nostrils due to an accident involving your nose
• You underwent rhinoplasty or other nasal surgeries in the past
• You have completely healed from previous surgeries and traumatic incidents
• You prefer to change the appearance of the nostrils
• You are physically and mentally healthy
• You are a non-smoker
• You are undergoing the procedure for yourself
• You have realistic expectations and surgery goals

Book a consultation now and find out if you meet the necessary criteria to undergo an alarplasty procedure.

Download the Rhinoplasty Surgery Guide

Benefits of the Alarplasty Procedure

Flared nostrils can make your nose a more prominent facial feature. Some people with flared nostrils undergo alarplasty or alar base reduction procedures to reduce the shape and size of the nostrils, this changes the shape and they generally don’t appear flared at all times.

Book a consultation with specialist plastic surgeon Dr Mark Doyle to find out more about the procedure and to see if it may be a surgery option for you.

Steps of an Alarplasty Procedure

Alarplasty is a cosmetic surgical procedure, although, it is not quite as complex as a traditional rhinoplasty procedure. Alaplasty procedure is, more often than not, performed along with other procedures such as a traditional nose job or rhinoplasty procedure. You can find out more about the procedure in detail during your initial consultation with Dr Doyle.

An alarplasty procedure, if performed as the only procedure, can take approximately thirty minutes. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia at John Flynn Private Hospital. It is an outpatient procedure and generally, you can go back home the same day.

The procedure for alarplasty begins with the surgeon marking the outer wings of your nose with a pen to visualise where the incisions will be and how much nasal tissue will be excised or removed. Your surgeon will then discuss your preferred nose shape and size with you prior to the surgery to have an optimal understanding of your surgery goals.

Once you have been anesthetised and are ready for the surgery to begin, your surgeon will use one of the following techniques for the first incision, depending on the extent of the changes required:

1. Wedge Technique

For this technique, the first incision will be along the natural crease of the curved part of your nose where it meets the cheek. Your surgeon will then remove the excess tissue from the outer wing of your nose in the shape of a wedge. This technique works on the curved part of the wings of your nose and reduces their size but doesn’t have any effect on the size of the nostril.

2. Sill Technique

This technique focuses on reducing the size of the base of the alar by making incisions in the inside of the nose. The sill technique allows the surgeon to remove excess tissue to make the alar base smaller and reduce the width of your nostrils. The internal incisions ensure that there is no visible scarring.

It is important to note that these incision techniques are often used along with one another to better the final result of the surgery. After the initial incisions have been made and the excess alar tissue has been removed, your surgeon will then close the incisions with sutures. This marks the end of your alarplasty procedure.

Recovery from Alarplasty Procedure

Recovery from an alarplasty procedure is generally quite fast and most patients are back to work in under a week.

After your alarplasty procedure, you may notice some swelling and bruising. This will generally be resolved within the first week. Dr Doyle will prescribe you pain relief medication, if required to help minimise any pain and discomfort that may be present.

You must refrain from smoking during the recovery period as it may complicate the healing process or result in an infection, both of which can negatively affect the overall results of the procedure. Similarly, you should abstain from drinking alcohol, especially when taking pain management medications to avoid any complications of the procedure.

During the recovery period, you should avoid any form of strenuous activities that may put pressure on the incisions and complicate the wound healing process resulting in uneven or raised scarring. Dr Doyle will let you know when you can resume doing your daily life activities according to your specific case.

Although the recovery period is short, the final results of the surgery may not be present for up to a year following the surgery. As the contours settle in and the shape and size of the nose change and settle.

Risks and Complications of Alarplasty Procedure

The Alarplasty procedure is a surgical procedure, and just like any other surgical procedure, there are certain risks and complications associated with the procedure. Some of the possible side effects include:

• Infection at the site of the surgery
• Drainage or pus oozing from the incisions
• Bleeding
• Bruising and discolouration of the nasal skin
• Side effects of anaesthesia
• Visible and prominent scarring
• Numbness of nasal skin, although temporary
• Nasal asymmetry
• Structural disturbances resulting in breathing difficulties

You should discuss these potential risks with Dr Doyle in detail to be able to make an informed decision. It is important to note that most of the complications and side effects of the alarplasty procedure can be minimised by choosing an experienced specialist plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. Book a consultation with Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Doyle on the Gold coast today.

Your Alasplasty Procedure Journey

Consultation

The consultation is the first step of your alarplasty journey is meeting your surgeon to get evaluated to ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria for the procedure. During the consultation period, Dr Doyle will explain the details of the procedure along with the benefits and risks of it so that you can decide if it is suitble for you.

It is strongly recommended that you are completely honest and candid with Dr Doyle when discussing your expectations and goals for the surgery. This will allow Dr Doyle to ensure that the desired results are achieved. If they cannot be achieved solely by an alarplasty procedure, Dr Doyle may recommend other associated procedures you can undergo at the same time to meet your expectations.

Procedure

The Alarplasty procedure is an outpatient procedure that is under general anaesthesia to reduce a wide alar base.

Dr Doyle may perform the surgery using one or a mixture of techniques to achieve the most suitable results for your anatomy. The position of the scars and the effect on the nostril size will depend on the techniques used.

After the initial incisions, Dr Doyle will remove excess nasal tissue and then suture up the incisions. This is the end of your alarplasty procedure and the second step of your journey.

Recovery

The recovery from the alarplasty procedure is generally quite short and generally takes up to two weeks. During the recovery period, you may experience swelling and bruising which should resolve spontaneously within the first week. In fact, you can generally go back to work the same day or a couple of days after surgery.

While recovering from an alarplasty procedure, it is extremely important that you avoid smoking, drinking, or putting any form of pressure on the incision site as that can complicate the healing process and eventually, the results of the surgery.

Why Choose Dr Mark Doyle?

Dr Mark Doyle is an experienced specialist plastic surgeon with over 30 years of surgical experience. He approaches all of the surgeries with innovative surgical techniques he learnt during his education and surgical training to ensure the highest level of patient care.

Ala Plasty Frequently Asked Questions

Can alar base reduction be reversed?

An alar base reduction procedure is a permanent procedure and cannot be reversed. The procedure’s results cannot be reversed without undergoing another surgery to add a skin graft to increase the curvature of the wings of your nose. 

How do I book?

Get in touch to book your initial consultation with Dr Doyle and find out more about Alarplasty surgery.