Definition
Columella is composed of cartilage and skin. It separates the nostrils connecting nasal tip to the nose base into left and right sides. While aesthetically shaping a person’s nose, the columella cannot be ignored, for instance in case of septal deviation, the columella may look crooked and hence needs to be fixed as well.
A retracted columella is referred to an aesthetic condition wherein the nose tip projection appears as retracted or pulled-in when viewed from the front or in profile view. The condition follows as a person’s 2/3rd columella is not appropriately projected or is inferior to the standard alar margin. A person with this kind of nose deformity is also medically terms as no columellar show as the columella is rarely visible. In general, a retracted columella may make an individual’s nose look overly short for the face as well as may even affect the person’s …show more content…
Nasal Trauma: There are many processes that may cause septal perforation or erosion of the cartilaginous septum, which in turn, may also trigger a columella retraction.
Treatment of Retracted Columella
The retracted columella correction in cosmetic rhinoplasty predominately depends upon the identification of the exact causative factor that leads to the defect. For this the surgeon performs a surgical assessment wherein the patient’s nasal columella is thoroughly examined. Subsequently, any surgical adjustments to the columella may have extensive functional and aesthetic impact on the nose, so a detailed evaluation is essential.
A columellar retraction is mainly evaluated in comparison to the upper lip and nostrils region. If the retraction is caused by a belligerent cosmetic surgery, surgeons study the pre-procedural images of the patient as a visual reference for the further treatment.
Retracted Columella – Surgical