Is Alar Lift Surgery a Legitimate Procedure? — Why Only a Few Clinics Offer It, and the Scar
2024. 9. 27.
For those wondering whether alar lift surgery is an established procedure — it is described in 'Dallas Rhinoplasty,' the textbook of nose surgery; it is not widespread because very few people want it; and the incision is made inside the nose so no scar shows externally. Organized from a real question and answer.
Key points
- The original answer explains that alar lift is a procedure described in 'Dallas Rhinoplasty' — but inclusion in a book alone does not prove an individual's candidacy, effect, or safety.
- It is not widespread less because of a problem with the surgery itself than because very few people want it — most people want the opposite: to keep the alae and lower the tip.
- An incision inside the nose can avoid an external incision line, but scarring, asymmetry, and pulling possibilities should be explained per individual.
"When I scrunch my nose, the alae go up — I want them raised that much all the time."
Alar reduction exists at almost every plastic surgery clinic, but alar lift surgery is seen at only a few — which can raise doubts. One person actually asked after seeing an answer online claiming "there is no such surgery."
This article organizes — through the real question and answer — whether alar lift is an established procedure, why it is uncommon, and what the scar and awkwardness are like.
01
The actual question — can alar lift surgery be trusted?
Q. What I want from nose surgery is the tip shape when I scrunch my nose. Scrunching raises the alae, and I want them raised that much. But I saw that it's not a surgery every clinic has like alar reduction — only a few plastic surgery clinics offer it — and I also saw an answer online saying alar lift surgery doesn't exist, so I became doubtful. I've been burned by special procedures before, so I have three questions.
- Is alar lift nose surgery a legitimate procedure?
- If so, why isn't it widespread — why do only a few clinics offer it?
- Is it a surgery with risks like side effects or post-op awkwardness?
Alar lift nose surgery is, as the asker said, a procedure performed at some plastic surgery clinics. Let me answer the three questions one by one.
02
Is alar lift surgery in the textbook?
It is hard to flatly say any surgery "has legitimacy," but alar lift surgery appears in 'Dallas Rhinoplasty,' a book considered the textbook of nose surgery. And looking at actual surgical cases, you can see the alae raised.
In other words, it is not a procedure some clinic arbitrarily invented — it is a surgery documented in the rhinoplasty literature. If you are curious about real cases, correction cases by nose area can be seen in the before-and-after photos.
03
If it has a basis, why do only a few clinics do it?
It is closer to a matter of demand than a problem with the surgery itself — because very few people want their alae raised.
| Category | Direction | Demand |
|---|---|---|
| Most cases | Keep the alae and **lower the tip** | High |
| Alar lift | Keep the tip and **raise the alae** | Very few |
Because so few people seek it, not every clinic offers it — it appears to be performed only at some clinics. The key point is that it is not because the surgery does not exist.
04
What about the scar or awkwardness?
The original answer explains that an incision inside the nose is used to avoid an external incision line. Still, it cannot be guaranteed that no scar is visible externally or that there is no awkwardness — the possible range of change and the risks of asymmetry and pulling should be checked together.
For any surgery, the suitable range can differ depending on your nose's condition, so whether it is actually possible and how much correction is appropriate is best judged after the nose is examined directly in consultation.
05
Summary — a rare surgery, but one in the literature
Alar lift surgery is a procedure described in 'Dallas Rhinoplasty' and performed at some plastic surgery clinics. It is not widespread because demand is extremely low, and the incision is made inside the nose so the scar does not show externally. Whether this correction is possible on your nose and how much is appropriate can be checked directly in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
How is alar lift surgery different from alar reduction?
Isn't alar lift an unfounded special procedure?
Does the scar show externally?
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.