Open vs closed rhinoplasty
The two techniques differ mainly in where the incisions are placed. What matters for you is which one fits your nose and which one your surgeon does best.
The basic difference
Closed rhinoplasty: all incisions are made inside the nostrils, so there is no cut on the outside skin.
Open rhinoplasty: the surgeon makes the same internal incisions plus one small cut across the columella, the strip of skin between the nostrils. The skin can then be lifted so the surgeon sees the nasal structure directly.
These are the standard definitions used by surgeons. The ASPS pages we reviewed do not compare the two, so this page makes no claims about healing speed, scar appearance or results. Those depend on the surgeon, the nose and the goals.
Why the choice is personal
- The amount of work needed on the tip or the framework of the nose can affect which approach a surgeon prefers.
- Many surgeons have a strong habit. A surgeon who does one technique almost all the time can still explain honestly why it suits you, or tell you it does not.
- Fixing a deviated septum is a breathing-related part of the operation. The ASPS says it works by adjusting the nasal structure to produce better alignment, and it can be part of either technique.
Ask your surgeon
- Which approach do you recommend for my nose, and why?
- How many times have you done this exact approach on a nose like mine?
- If there is an outside incision, where will it be and how will it be closed?
- How will you handle breathing problems, if I have them?
- Can I see photos of your own patients with a similar starting nose? (The ASPS publishes before-and-after photos on its site as a general reference, but they are not your surgeon’s work.)
- What is your plan if I am not happy after the nose has fully healed?
Sources: ASPS, What is rhinoplasty (accessed November 5, 2026); incision definitions are standard surgical terminology.