Aesthetic aspects of partial nasal reconstruction

The author's experience with reconstruction of acquired defects of the nasal lobule is presented and documented by two clinical case reports. The first patient exemplifies the conceptual approach to alar reconstruction, which consists of constructing all the elements on the forehead prior to transfer. This technique not only preserves aesthetic detail, but the reconstruction may be done in a minimum number of stages. The second case study illustrates reconstruction of the nasal tip, with emphasis on achieving a delicately curved, soft triangle area. This was accomplished by use of the gradual contracture of a split-thickness skin graft and a raw surface at the edge of the nasal alae.