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. 2019 Sep 30;7(9):e2450.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002450. eCollection 2019 Sep.

Nasal Skin Thickness Measurements Using Computed Tomography in an Adult Saudi Population

Jamal Jomah  1 , Rawan Adel Elsafi  2 , Khaled Salah Abdel Elaleem Ali  3 , Reem Abdullah  4 , Adnan Ghazi Gelidan  5
Affiliations

Nasal Skin Thickness Measurements Using Computed Tomography in an Adult Saudi Population

Jamal Jomah et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging operations in plastic surgery, and nasal skin thickness is a significant factor in determining rhinoplasty success. Only a few studies have measured nasal skin thickness before rhinoplasty. The present study was designed to measure nasal skin thickness to shed light on its importance to successful rhinoplasty.

Methods: Altogether, 60 patients underwent measurements of nasal skin thickness at 4 aesthetic points: nasion, rhinion, nasal tip, columella. The thickness was measured using computed tomography (CT), an objective, reliable tool for this purpose. Universally adopted Hounsfield unit measurement using in house software (Consultant Radiology Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) was performed using CT scan.

Results: The study group included 32 women and 28 men. Age range was 18-68 years, but most of the patients (53.3%) were within the 20-30-year age range. CT results showed that the mean nasal skin thickness was 3.96 ± 1.08 mm at the nasion, 1.86 ± 0.62 mm at the rhinion, 3.32 ± 0.78 mm at the nasal tip, and 3.32 ± 0.73 mm at the columella. When the nasal skin thicknesses were compared between men and women, a significant difference was observed only at the columella (P = 0.016).

Conclusions: The nasal skin is thickest at the nasion, thinner at the rhinion, and again thicker at the nasal tip and columella. Our data could be useful for plastic surgeons who could take the patient's own nasal area thickness into consideration when planning his or her rhinoplasty.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Reflects the measurement of nasal skin thickness using CT at four aesthetic points: nasion, rhinion, nasal tip, columella. The thickness was measured in millimeters.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Showing nasal skin thickness (mean ± SD) at four aesthetic points nasion, rhinion, nasal tip, and columella.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Showing nasal skin thickness (mean ± SD value) at four aesthetic points nasion, rhinion, nasal tip, and columella in male and female. *Shows the significant value at P < 0.05.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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