Evaluation Of Alar Base Changes After Orthognathic Surgery: An Original Research

Aim: Purpose of our research was to assess any soft tissue changes, especially related to alar base after orthognathic surgical procedure. Methodology: 20 patients were selected for this study who were suffering from maxillary hypoplasia, maxillary or mandibular prognathism. They underwent orthognathic surgeries like LeFort I osteotomy of maxilla and/or bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) of mandible, or combinations with Genioplasty,Anterior Maxillary Osteotomy and/or Sub-Apical Osteotomy. Superimposition of 3D photographic images before and after treatment was performed for comparisons using 3D stereophotogrammetric camera setup and software. Paired t-test was performed to compare between pre- as well as post-operative measurements of alar base. Results: The average width of the alar base and subalare were almost same after surgery. Alar width was amplified by 0.74 mm. Nasal height and length persisted. Nasolabial angle enlarged significantly. Nostril’s total area also increased. Nasal tip projection decreased significantly by 1.99 mm. Conclusion: The nasal changes in patients demonstrated an increase of the nasolabial angle, a delicate increase of the alar width, together with no change on the alar base width, nasal height, and nasal length.