Surgical lengthening of the short columella: division of the depressor septi muscles.

A new surgical procedure is described to correct the difficult problem of the short columella without resorting to cartilage grafts. The ready recourse to these grafts, so much in vogue at the present time in primary rhinoplasties, should be carefully and completely re-examined, since the final result very frequently yields no real benefits and may permanently deface the area from which the cartilage has been taken. The present technique combines trimming of the upper lateral nasal cartilages with approximation of the alar cartilages and excisions of the depressor septi muscles and/or contiguous orbicularis oris muscle.