Misadventures in nasal tip surgery. Analysis and repair.

Nasal tip surgery is a compromise, in which the surgeon gives away something to achieve something--a narrower, more defined, and stable tip component of the nose. Years of experience are required to thoroughly understand and master tip surgery techniques. While gaining this arduous but invaluable insight, emphasis should always be placed on conservation of tip anatomic structures and avoidance of radical excision and sacrifice of tip tissue. Compulsive long-term follow-up and evaluation of patients, both by frequent examination and review of standardized, uniform photographs, best facilitates the development of expertise in nasal tip surgical refinement.