Facts on Alar Trimming-Philippines

Facts On Alar Trimming-Philippines

One of the most common features of an Asian nose is the thick and overhanging alar rim with a wide and flaring alar base.  This can be enhanced by alar trimming surgery, this procedure narrows down the alar width of the nose and remove the excess or overhanging alar rim, thus exposing the collumela. This may be done alone or in combination with augmentation rhinoplasty.
Alar Trimming takes around an hour or two to perform, and is usually done as an outpatient procedure, under local anesthesia, with or without sedation.  In this procedure, wedge-shaped pieces of tissue are removed from the alar side wall, near its junction with the cheek. The remaining pieces are sutured together, and this results in a change in shape of the nostril, narrower inter-alar distance and columellar show.
A secondary benefit is that it also lifts the nasal tip up a bit. After the operation bruising and swelling during the first few days should be expected but these bruises will then subside in about 1 week.  Individuals planning to undergo alar trimming are prepared prior to scheduled surgery. Patients are advised to avoid the following for 2 to 3 weeks before surgery; smoking, alcoholic beverages, steroids, pain medications like mefenamic acid and naproxen, herbal tea, herbal medications, Vitamin E, blood thinning medications like aspirin and heparin, regulated drugs like valium, prohibited drugs like methamphetamines, diet pills and oral contraceptive pills. These medications and social activity may delay healing, prolong bleeding during surgery and may interact with the medications used during surgery. It is advised that patients discuss this further with their surgeon to minimize possible risks and complications.
Although alar trimming is generally safe, every patient seeking possible cosmetic services should consider some factors to ensure safety, minimize the risks involved, and get a good result. Oftentimes, patients choose their surgeon on the basis of price. However, the success of the procedure is largely dependent on your choice of surgeon. There are no laws in the Philippines that regulates who can perform alar trimming. Thus, to avoid unsatisfactory results, it is best to choose a surgeon who has had accredited training in plastic surgery and extensive experience in the said procedure. This delicate operation also requires aesthetic judgement, sense of beauty, and the ability to visualize the end result. Your surgeon’s skill can make all the difference between a good result and one which will require correction and additional expense, especially since he/she will be working on a very prominent feature on your face, select your surgeon on the basis of his professional qualifications and experience and not on the price.