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Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy

Received: 15 September 2025     Accepted: 10 February 2026     Published: 25 February 2026
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Abstract

Background: Secondary rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most technically demanding procedures within the domain of facial plastic surgery. This complexity arises primarily from the presence of distorted anatomical structures, scar contracture, and compromised structural support resulting from prior surgical interventions. Such alterations frequently result in diminished nasal tip projection, malrotation, columellar retraction, deviation, and dysfunction of the internal nasal valve. Conventional revision techniques often require open surgical approaches and structural grafting, including the utilization of costal cartilage, thereby increasing both the complexity and morbidity associated with the procedure. Purpose: This study aims to assess the clinical efficacy and reproducibility of septocolumellar anchorage as a cartilage-preserving technique for the restoration of nasal tip support and biomechanics in secondary rhinoplasty, primarily conducted through a closed endonasal approach. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving 26 consecutive patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty between April 2022 and October 2024, subsequent to primary surgery performed by a different surgeon. The indications for revision included diminished tip projection or rotation, columellar retraction, tip deviation, and functional airway compromise. Surgical intervention was performed under general anesthesia, primarily employing intercartilaginous and hemitransfixion incisions. Following the release of scar tissue and mobilization of the lower lateral cartilages, septocolumellar sutures were anchored to the anterosuperior angle of the caudal septum to ensure stable tip support. Selective use of adjunctive septal cartilage grafts was implemented, while no costal cartilage grafts were harvested. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Results: The patient cohort ranged in age from 20 to 64 years, with a mean age of 42.7 ± 12.1 years, and an average of 1.34 prior rhinoplasty procedures. A closed surgical approach was utilized in 73% of the cases. Restoration of nasal tip projection, rotation, and alignment was successfully achieved in all patients, accompanied by a consistent enhancement in nasal airflow in instances where preoperative obstruction was present. No major complications, structural failures, or requirements for tertiary revision were reported. Conclusions: Septocolumellar anchorage represents a dependable and reproducible cartilage-sparing technique in secondary rhinoplasty. It offers predictable biomechanical control over nasal tip dynamics while minimizing tissue dissection and obviating the necessity for costal cartilage grafting in appropriately selected patients.

Published in Science Discovery Medicine (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12
Page(s) 7-12
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Septocolumellar Anchorage, Nasal Tip Biomechanics, Nasal Tip Support, Secondary Rhinoplasty, Closed Approach

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Espinosa-Reyes, J. A., Alvarez, J. C. O., Cobo, R., Heredia, N., Quijano, R. (2026). Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy. Science Discovery Medicine, 1(1), 7-12. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12

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    ACS Style

    Espinosa-Reyes, J. A.; Alvarez, J. C. O.; Cobo, R.; Heredia, N.; Quijano, R. Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy. Sci. Discov. Med. 2026, 1(1), 7-12. doi: 10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12

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    AMA Style

    Espinosa-Reyes JA, Alvarez JCO, Cobo R, Heredia N, Quijano R. Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy. Sci Discov Med. 2026;1(1):7-12. doi: 10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12,
      author = {Jorge Alberto Espinosa-Reyes and Juan Carlos Ochoa Alvarez and Roxana Cobo and Nicolas Heredia and Roberto Quijano},
      title = {Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: 
    A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy},
      journal = {Science Discovery Medicine},
      volume = {1},
      number = {1},
      pages = {7-12},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sdmed.20260101.12},
      abstract = {Background: Secondary rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most technically demanding procedures within the domain of facial plastic surgery. This complexity arises primarily from the presence of distorted anatomical structures, scar contracture, and compromised structural support resulting from prior surgical interventions. Such alterations frequently result in diminished nasal tip projection, malrotation, columellar retraction, deviation, and dysfunction of the internal nasal valve. Conventional revision techniques often require open surgical approaches and structural grafting, including the utilization of costal cartilage, thereby increasing both the complexity and morbidity associated with the procedure. Purpose: This study aims to assess the clinical efficacy and reproducibility of septocolumellar anchorage as a cartilage-preserving technique for the restoration of nasal tip support and biomechanics in secondary rhinoplasty, primarily conducted through a closed endonasal approach. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving 26 consecutive patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty between April 2022 and October 2024, subsequent to primary surgery performed by a different surgeon. The indications for revision included diminished tip projection or rotation, columellar retraction, tip deviation, and functional airway compromise. Surgical intervention was performed under general anesthesia, primarily employing intercartilaginous and hemitransfixion incisions. Following the release of scar tissue and mobilization of the lower lateral cartilages, septocolumellar sutures were anchored to the anterosuperior angle of the caudal septum to ensure stable tip support. Selective use of adjunctive septal cartilage grafts was implemented, while no costal cartilage grafts were harvested. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Results: The patient cohort ranged in age from 20 to 64 years, with a mean age of 42.7 ± 12.1 years, and an average of 1.34 prior rhinoplasty procedures. A closed surgical approach was utilized in 73% of the cases. Restoration of nasal tip projection, rotation, and alignment was successfully achieved in all patients, accompanied by a consistent enhancement in nasal airflow in instances where preoperative obstruction was present. No major complications, structural failures, or requirements for tertiary revision were reported. Conclusions: Septocolumellar anchorage represents a dependable and reproducible cartilage-sparing technique in secondary rhinoplasty. It offers predictable biomechanical control over nasal tip dynamics while minimizing tissue dissection and obviating the necessity for costal cartilage grafting in appropriately selected patients.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Septocolumellar Anchorage in Secondary Rhinoplasty: 
    A Cartilage-Sparing, Closed-Approach Strategy
    AU  - Jorge Alberto Espinosa-Reyes
    AU  - Juan Carlos Ochoa Alvarez
    AU  - Roxana Cobo
    AU  - Nicolas Heredia
    AU  - Roberto Quijano
    Y1  - 2026/02/25
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12
    T2  - Science Discovery Medicine
    JF  - Science Discovery Medicine
    JO  - Science Discovery Medicine
    SP  - 7
    EP  - 12
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdmed.20260101.12
    AB  - Background: Secondary rhinoplasty is recognized as one of the most technically demanding procedures within the domain of facial plastic surgery. This complexity arises primarily from the presence of distorted anatomical structures, scar contracture, and compromised structural support resulting from prior surgical interventions. Such alterations frequently result in diminished nasal tip projection, malrotation, columellar retraction, deviation, and dysfunction of the internal nasal valve. Conventional revision techniques often require open surgical approaches and structural grafting, including the utilization of costal cartilage, thereby increasing both the complexity and morbidity associated with the procedure. Purpose: This study aims to assess the clinical efficacy and reproducibility of septocolumellar anchorage as a cartilage-preserving technique for the restoration of nasal tip support and biomechanics in secondary rhinoplasty, primarily conducted through a closed endonasal approach. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving 26 consecutive patients who underwent revision rhinoplasty between April 2022 and October 2024, subsequent to primary surgery performed by a different surgeon. The indications for revision included diminished tip projection or rotation, columellar retraction, tip deviation, and functional airway compromise. Surgical intervention was performed under general anesthesia, primarily employing intercartilaginous and hemitransfixion incisions. Following the release of scar tissue and mobilization of the lower lateral cartilages, septocolumellar sutures were anchored to the anterosuperior angle of the caudal septum to ensure stable tip support. Selective use of adjunctive septal cartilage grafts was implemented, while no costal cartilage grafts were harvested. The minimum follow-up period was 12 months. Results: The patient cohort ranged in age from 20 to 64 years, with a mean age of 42.7 ± 12.1 years, and an average of 1.34 prior rhinoplasty procedures. A closed surgical approach was utilized in 73% of the cases. Restoration of nasal tip projection, rotation, and alignment was successfully achieved in all patients, accompanied by a consistent enhancement in nasal airflow in instances where preoperative obstruction was present. No major complications, structural failures, or requirements for tertiary revision were reported. Conclusions: Septocolumellar anchorage represents a dependable and reproducible cartilage-sparing technique in secondary rhinoplasty. It offers predictable biomechanical control over nasal tip dynamics while minimizing tissue dissection and obviating the necessity for costal cartilage grafting in appropriately selected patients.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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