Development of an operative plan that will achieve the desired outcome requires an under-standing of the patient’s wishes and selection of appropriate surgical maneuvers to effect the proposed changes. The surgeon must be able to identify anatomic constraints that will limit the ability to change contour (thick skin, weak cartilages, etc.). Experience with rhino plasty over time has shown that detailed anatomic analysis of the nose is an essential first step in achieving a successful outcome. Failure to recognize a particular anatomic point preoperatively will often lead to a less than ideal long-term result.
After you have identified the various anatomic landmarks in Chapter 1, undertake a pre-operative rhinoplasty analysis of your patient (cadaver specimen). In this programmatic dissection, you will perform a number of incisions, approaches, and surgical techniques, but it is also important to develop your skills in rhinoplasty analysis. Repeated practice of rhinoplasty-analysis skills will improve your preoperative diagnostic ability. Therefore, in this exercise, determine what the best approach and techniques would be in your specimen. Follow the simplified rhinoplasty-analysis algorithm provided as you examine the face and nose.
Also provided is a more detailed description of terms and a more detailed review of rhinoplasty analysis.