Alarplasty Sydney

Nostril Surgery known as Alarplasty or Alar Base Reduction can help improve wide nostrils. This nostril procedure is done by Dr Scott Turner FRACS (Plas) in Newcastle and Sydney NSW. He can help reshape and reposition your nostrils so they balance your face, giving you a younger, refreshed look.

What is an Alarplasty?

Alarplasty or alar trimming is a surgical procedure that reduces the size and the width of your nostrils, leaving your nose and your face aesthetically pleasing. The Alarplasty procedure is best done under general anaesthesia, and it is frequently combined with other surgical procedures, such as septoplasty or nose reshaping surgery. Alarplasty is one of the most common nose procedures in people of ethnicity and those who are not happy with how their nose fits their face. Dr Scott Turner can help you achieve narrower nostrils for a more balanced face.

Am I A Good Candidate For Nostril Surgery?

You may be a good candidate for nose surgery if you:

Do not have problems with the internal function of your nose
Are satisfied with the look of your face but have wide or narrow nostrils
You think that the inside of your nostrils can be seen during a conversation or when you smile or laugh
You think that your nostrils are too wide and would like to reduce them
You are a non-smoker or are willing to quit several weeks before and after your alarplasty

What Are The Benefits Of Nostril Surgery?

Nose surgery or alarplasty has many benefits to offer to patients with wide noses or wide nostrils:

Improved looks of the nose
Symmetrical nostrils
Improved function of the nose – easier breathing
Better facial balance – alarplasty restores the proportions of your face

Browse Before & After Images

Recovery After Alarplasty

Alarplasty recovery is short, and there is almost no discomfort. This is why the nostril reduction procedure is one of the most sought after nose plastic procedures. What you can expect during nostril reduction recovery:

After 24-48 hours, you will be able to return to your everyday duties,
After a week, your specialized plastic surgeon will remove the sutures if they are non-dissolvable sutures for alarplasty. If they are self-dissolvable, they will fall off on their own.
After 10-14 days, most alarplasty patients return to work,
After two weeks, you can resume exercise and almost all activities,
After one month, you can return to more strenuous activities, such as lifting and swimming.
Your Alarplasty recovery timeline may differ. Always consult your surgeon with any concerns you may have.

Risk & Complications Of Nostril Surgery

As with any surgery, it is important that you are fully informed of the potential risks associated with nose surgery. While all care is taken to minimize these complications, they may and do occur despite the best medical care.

It is important that you carefully read and understand the potential risks and they will be discussed in further detail when you have your consultation with Dr Turner.

You may need a Revision Nose Surgery

In a small but significant number of cases (about 10%) both the patient and surgeon feel the shape of the nose after six months is not quite that which was intended. A second procedure (revision rhinoplasty) may be called for. It is important to remember that the revision surgery cannot be carried out immediately, the nose has to be allowed to settle before further surgery is safe or desirable.

Alarplasty-associated risks included: Infection, Bleeding, Swelling, Bruising, Overt scarring and keloid formation, Tissue necrosis, Adverse reaction to the anaesthetic, etc.

To minimize the risks of alar reduction complications, you should always choose the top nostril surgeon who can operate in hospital-like conditions and has a great support team.

Next Steps

Your Cosmetic Plastic surgery consultation

During your consultation, Dr Turner will discuss your goals, and provide an in-depth explanation of your desired surgery and what that means for you. He can also discuss different surgical techniques, benefits, and risks of procedures available.

Most importantly, however, this is the time for you to have all of your questions answered and to be completely listened to and understood by your surgeon. We ask that you please come prepared with any questions you may have for Dr Turner, and look forward to discussing your individualised plan.

1

Research

Ensure you have done your research, both on your desired surgery, as well as your surgeon.

2

Book a consultation

Submit an enquiry through our website or give us a call before booking your consultation. To ensure you are a suitable candidate for your desired procedure, Dr Turner asks to review your images before making a booking. This saves time and money if you are not a suitable candidate, in which case our lovely team will help direct you to an alternative procedure.

3

Meet with Dr Turner

Once your images have been approved and your consultation has been booked, we ask that you prepare any questions you may have for Dr Turner, as well as some images of desired outcomes for your surgery, this helps ensure you and Dr Turner are on the same page when discussing realistic results.

4

5

Keep up-to-date

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening in Dr Turner’s clinics around NSW by following our Instagram @faceplus.aesthetics and @drscottjturner

Ready to take the next step?

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions about Nostril Surgery

Can my nostrils be made smaller?

Yes, your nostrils can be made smaller. Dr Scott Turner can make your nostrils smaller or narrower using alarplasty or nostril reduction surgery. This surgical procedure has a short recovery time and yields satisfying results for your nostril reduction.

How can I reduce the size of my nose?

There are two ways to reduce your nose:

Alarplasty – makes the nostrils smaller by removing extra skin and underlying tissue from your nostrils,
Rhinoplasty – removes the dorsal hump and corrects the shape of the nose by means of bone shaving and cartilage reduction.
Consult your specialized plastic surgeon today to see which nose-reduction procedure is the right procedure for you.
What is the difference between rhinoplasty and alarplasty?
Both rhinoplasty and alarplasty are surgical procedures that remove some of the nose tissue. Rhinoplasty removes the supporting bone and cartilage utilizing an incision placed across your columella – a well-hidden spot. A rhinoplasty can change the shape and the projection of your nose. An alarplasty removes the excess skin and tissues from your nostrils through small incisions in the crevice where the nostril meets the cheek. It does not address the dorsal hump but can rather make your nose more narrow.

Is Alarplasty cheaper than rhinoplasty?

Yes, an alarplasty is cheaper than rhinoplasty because it is a less invasive procedure. Alarplasty usually lasts up to an hour, while a rhinoplasty usually lasts some 3-4 hours. An alarplasty can be done under local anaesthesia, while a rhinoplasty is mostly done under general anaesthesia.

Does alarplasty affect breathing?

A well-done alarplasty will not affect your breathing. Your alarplasty surgeon should be able to properly assess how much of the nostril tissue they should remove to both:

Give you satisfying alarplasty results,
Preserve the primary function of the nose (breathing).
How is alar base reduction done?
During the alar base reduction or alar base rhinoplasty, Dr Scott Turner will administer the anaesthetic, make the markings and remove a wedge-like piece of the tissue from your nostrils. After this, the surgeon will apply sutures to the incision place and close the incision. You will go home an hour or so after the surgery with a reshaped nose.

Expand to learn more

When should I have a facelift?

There is no defined age that is best to undergo facelift surgery – we all age differently according to our genetics and environmental experiences such as sun exposure, skin care and smoking. Facelifts can be performed from early 40′s to late 70′s. Benefits usually last longer when a facelift is performed on a younger person who still have good skin elasticity.

How long will my facelift last?

Due to the natural ageing process and the effects of gravity. Facial ageing will unfortunately continue. With that being said, your face will always look younger than it did if you had never had a facelift done. Overall, this procedure tends to reset the clock, leading to a 10+ year advantage over individuals of the same age. If, over time, you would like an additional facelift, it is generally not as comprehensive as the initial surgery.

Will people be able to see that I’ve had a facelift?

After getting a facelift, many patients mention that their friends and family make remarks about how they look fresh and rested. People might ask if you have been away on holiday or if you’ve “changed something”. There is no characteristic look of a facelift. Forget about the problems with the old fashioned unnatural face lifts. Modern procedures are undetectable. The procedure simply restores your youthful look and no one will be able to tell you’ve had anything done. You’ll just look like a well-rested and fresh version of you.

Do you do fat transfer as part of a facelift?

Fat transfer are an integral component of any facelift surgery, to give complete rejuvenation of the face. The concept of the volumetric facelift, combines the benefit of restoring facial volume associated with ageing with fat injections combined with lifting and tightening the deeper facial structures with a SMAS facelift procedure. There are very few patients that don’t benefit from the addition of fat grafting as part of a facelift procedure.

Will I have any scars?

The incisions used during a facelift, will depend on the procedure and the technique used. For instance, the incisions made for a traditional facelift will differ from a short-scar facelift or midface lift. With incisions made in natural borders, hairlines, and folds, once fully healed, they will be barely noticeable. At first, they may be pink and slightly raised, but within the first few months, they will begin to quickly fade.

How quickly will stitches be removed? How quickly will I heal?

Once you leave the hospital, a follow-up appointment will be made within the first 7 days. At this time, Dr Turner will assess your wounds and remove stitches. After this step is completed, it’s recommended that you commence topical silicone ointment along the incision line. Overall, most patients look presentable after the first 2 weeks. The full healing time for soft tissue and skin will be around 6 months. Although scaring may be red and itchy at first, within the first few months, they’ll begin to lighten. After 1-2 years, they will soften and be barely noticeable.

How long will I need to take off work?

More patients can return to work after 2 weeks following surgery. Within the first 3 days, you will likely experience swelling, which then settles after approximately 1 week. Overall, the healing process is rapid, and you will be able to return to your regular routine within 2-3 weeks. At 2 weeks, for instance, you can generally begin to perform light exercise, gently increasing activity levels over 6 weeks.

Will I need a drain after my facelift?

Yes, in most cases. Drains are used to gather excessive fluid after a facelift procedure. Your drain will be removed the day after your procedure. If you’re having a short scar facelift in a limited area, you might not need a drain. Dr Turner will advise you before the procedure so you know exactly what to expect.

Do hairlines shift after a facelift?

During your consultation with Dr Turner we evaluate which incision placement is best suited for you. If you require a large amount of skin removal than an incision placed along the hair line will minimize any hairline shifts which are an unfortunate stigma of having a poorly executed facelift surgery.

How is alarplasty done?

Alarplasty or an alar base reduction surgery is a surgical procedure that removes some extra tissues from the nostrils. This is done to make your nostrils narrower and to bring a new balance to your face.

Is alar base reduction permanent?

Yes, an alar base reduction is permanent. The tissues that your specialized plastic surgeon, Dr Scott Turner, removes in an alar base reduction procedure are gone for good. However, your nose will keep aging and may experience some change in shape and size as the years pass.

Is Alarplasty part of rhinoplasty?

In general, no, but alarplasty is often added to or combined with a rhinoplasty. These two surgeries can be combined for remarkable results and a truly reshaped nose. A rhinoplasty can make your nose narrower, and the base and an alarplasty procedure can make your nostrils smaller.

What should you not do after Alarplasty?

After your alarplasty procedure, there are things to avoid during the recovery stage:

Strenuous activity – it increases the chances for bleeding and infection,
Sexual activity – since it increases blood pressure and heart rate,
Doing any dangerous activity, where your nose may suffer trauma,
Blowing your nose – until your surgeon says it is OK to do so,
Exposure to direct sunlight – since it may increase scarring and prolong the recovery time.
How long does Alarplasty take to heal?
An alarplasty heals very quickly. The initial bruising and swelling will be gone within a week or so after the procedure. You can return to work some 10-14 days after your alarplasty.

Does alarplasty hurt?

No, alarplasty is generally a painless procedure. During your alar base reduction, you will receive either an anaesthetic or a combination of anaesthetic and sedative to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. After the procedure, your surgeon can either administer a local, long-term painkiller (effective up to 72 hours) or prescribe you pain relievers.

How much does Alar surgery cost?

In general, alarplasty Australia prices vary. Expect to pay anywhere from A$4000 for your Alarplasty procedure. Beware of cheap nose surgery procedures since they may cause more trouble than good and often come at the compromised quality of the procedure.

About Dr Scott Turner FRACS (Plas) – Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Dr Scott J Turner has spent a lifetime acquiring the qualifications, education, training, and hands-on surgical experience to perform superior cosmetic plastic surgery to give you beautiful results. He is one of Sydney’s great Specialist Plastic Surgeons with a focus on face surgeries in New South Wales.
Achieving this personal goal requires not only in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and refined surgical techniques but an ongoing commitment to learning the latest procedures around the world. This is why Dr Turner regularly attends both local and international surgeon meetings – discussing these advances with the leaders around the world in order to offer you the most effective and safest surgical procedures.
Dr Turner and his highly trained staff will do everything to ensure that you are fully informed, while providing exceptional cosmetic plastic surgery, in a personal and caring environment.