Question: What is an osteotomy and why is it performed?
Answer: Osteotomy simply means “cutting bone” but in rhinoplasty it translates to what patients refer to as breaking the bones. Osteotomies or breaking of the nasal bones in a rhinoplasty are done for various reasons. To narrow the nose, to straighten a nose or to close a gap on top of the nose after nasal hump removal. There are multiple ways of doing the osteotomies. The nicest way is using a 2mm-4mm chisel from the inside but some use larger chisels and some do it by poking a hole on the outside of the nose on the cheek skin. The smaller and sharper the instrument, the less bleeding and bruising the patient will have after breaking of the nasal bones.
