Many patients are concerned about the scars for alar base reduction or bringing in the nostrils. There are numerous reasons this area around the nostrils scar more than usual. The majority of patients that require alar base reduction or narrowing of the nostrils are ethnic patients with thicker skin. Thicker skin and darker pigmented skin in Asians or African Americans will scar more than Caucasian patients just simply due to their skin type. When performing a nasal base reduction, a small amount of skin/tissue is removed and the nostril is brought in to be made smaller. This requires movement and rearrangement of the nostril, placing the closure under a little more tension than just closing an incision or laceration. This leads to a little more scarring. By creating a tension free closure with deep sutures or stitches of the nostril, the scar will be minimized. Regardless, it does take several weeks for the scar to improve from alar base reduction.

Dr. Funk is a top rhinoplasty surgeon and ethnic rhinoplasty surgeon in Houston, TX.