A practical method for assessing nasal skin quality.

Nasal skin quality is an essential indicator of rhinoplasty outcomes. The objective of this study was to collect data on the nasal skin thickness of randomly selected Turkish men and women. The study involved 50 male and 50 female subjects. We measured the nasal dorsal skin thickness by pinching the sides of the nose upwards to produce a skinfold and then measuring the thickness of this skinfold with a Castroviejo caliper [A&A, Almecon Instruments]. We also measured the thickness of the right and left alar walls with the same caliper. In the male subjects, the mean nasal dorsal thickness and the mean overall, right, and left alar wall thicknesses were 4.02 ± 0.71, 3.99 ± 0.69, 3.98 ± 0.69, and 4.00 ± 0.69 mm, respectively. The corresponding values in the female subjects were 3.38 ± 0.56, 3.45 ± 0.66, 3.43 ± 0.67, and 3.46 ± 0.65 mm. In Turkish men, a nasal dorsum measuring greater than 4 mm can be considered "thick." In Turkish women, the mean nasal dorsal and alar wall thicknesses were 3.38 and 3.45 mm, respectively. Values greater than these are considered "thick." Either nasal dorsal thickness or alar wall thickness may be measured in men, but both must be measured in women scheduled to undergo rhinoplasty. Dark nasal skin and oily nasal skin tend to be thicker.