Controlled Nasolabial Angle Treatment

Objective: To evaluate the nasolabial angle (NLA) treatment with the septal-columellar strut suture in a controlled and precise technique. Method: Twelve patients of both sexes (8 women and 4 men), who had nasolabial angle not compatible with sex (we consider the angle between 90° and 95° suitable for men and 95° to 100° for women) underwent open approach rhinoplasty. A special ruler protractor type (developed for this purpose) was used to indicate how much the caudal septum should be resected to maintain these angles accurately. Then the columellar strut was fixed to the caudal septum with 2 sutures (one superior and another one inferior). Patients were evaluated using digital photography before surgery, immediately postoperatively (PO), and 6 months after surgery. Patients were followed prospectively. Results: In those 8 women evaluated, the ANL was between 95° and 100° in the immediate postoperative period. The 6-month postoperative evaluation revealed that 5 had a variation of 3°, and 3 of them had variations between 3° and 5°. Of the 4 evaluated men, all had ANL between 90° and 95°, and their 6-month postoperative evaluations revealed variations of 3° in 2 patients and variations between 3° and 5° in the other 2. Conclusion: The nasolabial angle can be treated in a controlled and precise way, using a special ruler protractor and the columellar strut-septal suture.