The nose is best evaluated and divided into 3 regions. These are the bridge, nasal tip area and alar rim-base area. The alar area of the nose is often called as the alar lobule. Alar rim thickness, contour and width often affect the character of the nose and the face as a whole. For patients that would have thick, overhanging and wide alar rim and/or alar base, often would have a strong and masculine nasal profile. This is commonly seen among Orientals and Asians.

In the Philippines, alar procedure like alar trimming, alar narrowing, alar plasty and alar re-contouring is often requested. This procedure soften the feature of the nose, by excising the excess and overhanging alar rim to improve contour and to thin out the thick alar rim. Also by removing the excess overhanging alar rim the procedure, exposes the columella of the nose when viewed from the side. This gives the patient a V-shape alar base.

Alar trimming or alar plasty is a powerful procedure in that it changes the nasal shape and influences facial character. By altering the shape and contour of the alar rim and base area, the nose and the face as whole, becomes less masculine and facial harmony between structures is attained.

Alar reshaping is usually performed under local anesthesia and surgery will take 1 to 2 hours to complete. Some patients prefer to be sedated during surgery for better comfort and to lessen their anxiety. If patient would have the procedure under sedation, an anesthesiologist will be required and pre operative laboratory test is requested. Alar surgery is a safe and straight-forward procedure, provided that patients should be adequately prepared before surgery. After the surgery, your nose will be swollen and may have some bruising. This will peak on the 3rd day and start to subside on the 4th day onwards. On the average, your nose will be socially presentable by the 7th day after surgery since most of the swelling had subside. Sutures are removed on the 5 and 7th day after surgery.

This surgery is a minor procedure. Some patient/s(not all) will need laboratory test or medical clearance prior to surgery. Only patient/s the following condition will require lab test:

Existing medical condition
Currently taking medications that may alter bleeding parameters
More thank 45 years of age with significant medical condition
Patients with hormonal problems or bleeding disorder
Patients who are taking herbal tea or medications or recreational drugs
Patients that prefer to have their surgery under sedation or general anesthesia

These are the laboratory test needs to be done with in a month prior to surgery if needed or indicated for any particular patient that may need further medical evaluation. Please be informed that laboratory test, medical evaluation and clearance cost or fees are not included in our package. These are the usual lab test needed to be done prior to surgery;

Complete Blood Count
Platelet Count
Bleeding Time
Health Care Tips
Clotting Time
Chest X-Ray
12L – EKG

If patients plans to have alar surgery, it would be ideal if they can send their doctor photos of their face and nose(front and side view) so that the doctor can evaluate their facial and nasal profile and be able to determine and plan the right procedure/s for their nose which will attain the result they want.

Also, it would help if you can see some before and after photos so that you may have an ideal of the possible outcome.

The cost or price of rhinoplasty or alar surgery in the Philippines is more affordable when compared to other countries in the west. Its best to discuss your procedure with the surgeon, so that you may know all your options and discuss your expectation and desired result.

To know more about your rhinoplasty procedure. It would be best to consult your surgeon, so that you may know all your options.