Cited Research
Patients researching rhinoplasty quickly encounter the open-versus-closed debate. The reality in 2026 is less ideological than the internet suggests: experienced surgeons use both, choosing the approach that gives them the best view of the anatomy they need to change.
Closed (endonasal) rhinoplasty
All incisions hidden inside the nostrils. No external scar, slightly faster swelling resolution, and ideal for dorsal hump reduction or subtle refinement when the tip cartilages are already well-positioned.
Open (external) rhinoplasty
A small 4–5 mm incision across the columella connects the two nostril incisions, allowing the skin to be lifted like the hood of a car. The surgeon gains direct visualization for tip grafting, complex asymmetries, revisions, and ethnic rhinoplasty. The scar heals nearly invisibly in over 95% of patients.
When each is preferred
- Closed: small hump reduction, mild deviation, primary cases with good tip support.
- Open: tip refinement, ethnic rhinoplasty, revision cases, post-traumatic reconstruction.
References & Further Reading
This article is general information about procedures we perform. It is not medical advice and does not replace an assessment by a physician who has examined you. Individual results, risks and recovery vary.