Alarplasty in Scottsdale, AZ
Alarplasty in Scottsdale, Phoenix & Paradise Valley, performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Gruszynski.
Alarplasty in Scottsdale, Phoenix & Paradise Valley, performed by board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Gruszynski.
Do Your Nostrils Keep You From Feeling Confident?
The width or shape of your nostrils can affect how you feel about your entire face. When your nostrils flare too wide or look out of balance with the rest of your nose, it can make you self-conscious in photos and everyday life.
Alarplasty, also called alar base reduction, is a focused procedure that reshapes the lower edges of your nose where the nostrils meet your cheeks. Unlike a full nose job, it only targets the soft tissue around your nostrils to reduce their width or correct flare, which directly addresses the concern of a nose base that feels too wide for your face.
The procedure involves small incisions placed in the natural creases around your nostrils so scars stay well hidden. Dr. Gruszynski removes a small wedge of tissue, then carefully sutures the area into a narrower position.
Take the first step toward a nose that matches how you want to look and feel.
Alarplasty At a Glance
Benefits of Alarplasty
Alarplasty offers several real benefits that can improve both the look and balance of your nose. Here is what many patients experience after the procedure.
Ideal Candidates
for Alarplasty
Alarplasty works best for people who have specific concerns about the width or shape of their nostrils. Here is what typically makes someone a good fit for this procedure.
Wide or Flared Nostrils
Your nostrils spread noticeably wider than the space between your inner eye corners.
Thick Alar Tissue at the Nose Base
You have excess soft tissue along the outer edges of your nostrils that adds bulk to the nasal base.
Nostril Asymmetry You Want Corrected
One nostril is clearly wider or more rounded than the other, and you want them to match.
Desire for Nostril Refinement Without a Full Nose Job
Your bridge and tip look fine, but the base of your nose feels too wide for your face.
Stable Nasal Development
Your nose has finished growing, which typically means you are at least 16 to 18 years old.
Previous Rhinoplasty Left Wide Nostrils
A past nose surgery improved your bridge or tip, but your nostril width still looks out of balance.
Dr. Gruszynski will evaluate your candidacy for alar base reduction in Scottsdale during your first consultation.
Schedule a consultation to get started.
How Alarplasty
Reshapes Your Nostril Base
The outer edges of your nostrils are called the “alar” or nasal wings. Think of them as two small, curved flaps that form the lowest part of your nose and connect to your cheeks. Unlike the bridge or tip of your nose, the alar are made up of skin and soft tissue rather than bone or cartilage. This means their width and shape are determined by how much tissue sits in this area and how it attaches to the face.
When the alar are naturally wide or thick, the base of your nose can look broader than the rest of your features. Some people also notice their nostrils flare outward when they smile or take a deep breath, which makes the width even more noticeable.
During alarplasty, Dr. Mark removes a small, wedge-shaped piece of tissue from each alar where the nostril meets the cheek. The exact location and size of the wedge depends on how much narrowing you need. Once the tissue is removed, the remaining skin is brought together and sutured into a tighter position. This pulls the nostril walls inward and reduces the overall width of your nasal base.
“The base of the nose is often what throws off facial proportions. You can have a great bridge and a refined tip, but if the nostrils are too wide, something still looks off. That’s exactly what alarplasty corrects. It’s a subtle procedure, but the balance it creates is immediately noticeable”
Alarplasty Consultation At Our Scottsdale Office
Your consultation starts with Dr. Gruszynski examining your nose up close. He will look at your alar width, nostril shape, skin thickness, and how your nasal base relates to the rest of your facial features.
Dr. Gruszynski will talk with you about your goals and what changes are realistic for your anatomy. Together, you will discuss which technique will work best and what your results may look like.
Our team will walk you through the timeline, pre-op steps, and what to expect on the day of your procedure. You will leave the office with a clear plan and the confidence to move forward.
How to Prepare for Alarplasty
Getting ready before your procedure helps everything go smoothly on surgery day and sets you up for a better recovery. Here is what to do in the weeks ahead.
Set Up Your Recovery Space
Arrange a comfortable spot at home with extra pillows to keep your head elevated while you rest.
Stock Up on Soft Foods
Prepare meals that do not require a lot of chewing, since wide jaw movements can pull on your nose area.
Get Gentle Cleaning Supplies
Pick up saline spray and cotton swabs so you can carefully clean around your incisions after surgery.
Plan for Limited Sun Exposure
Scottsdale sun can affect fresh scars, so gather hats and SPF to protect your nose once you start going outdoors.
Stop Blood-Thinning Medications
Follow Dr. Gruszynski’s instructions on pausing aspirin, ibuprofen, and certain supplements before your procedure.
Arrange a Ride Home
You will need someone to drive you to and from the office, even with local anesthesia.
Preparing early for your alarplasty in Scottsdale helps your recovery go as smoothly as possible.
What are the Steps of Alarplasty
Alarplasty is a straightforward procedure that typically takes under an hour. Here is what happens from start to finish so you know exactly what to expect.
Alarplasty Techniques
Different techniques exist for alarplasty, and the right one depends on your specific nostril shape, the degree of change you want, and your anatomy.
Wedge Excision
This technique removes a small, wedge-shaped piece of tissue from the outer edge of the nostril where it meets the cheek. It is the most common approach for reducing nostril flare. The incision sits along the natural alar crease, and it works well for patients whose nostrils spread outward.
Sill Excision
A sill excision removes tissue from the floor of the nostril, just inside the nose where it meets the upper lip. This approach is best for narrowing the overall width of the nasal base without changing the outer nostril shape. Scars are hidden inside the nose, so they are not visible at all.
Weir Excision
The Weir technique is an extended version of the wedge approach that removes tissue along a wider arc of the alar rim. It offers more dramatic narrowing for patients who need a bigger change. We may recommend this when both flare and overall base width need to be reduced at the same time.
Procedures Often Combined With Alarplasty
Some patients choose to combine alarplasty with other nasal procedures to address more than one concern during a single surgery.
Rhinoplasty
A full rhinoplasty reshapes the bridge, tip, or overall size of your nose. When paired with alarplasty, it allows Dr. Mark to refine both the structure of the nose and the width of the nostrils in one procedure. This combination gives a more complete result for patients who want changes beyond just the nasal base.
Septoplasty
Septoplasty straightens the wall between your two nasal passages. Patients who have wide nostrils along with a deviated septum can benefit from having both done together. This combination addresses both the look and the function of your nose in a single surgery.
Alarplasty Recovery Timeline
Every patient heals at their own pace, so your experience may differ slightly from what is listed here. Recovery from alarplasty is typically quick compared to other nasal procedures.
Days 1-3
You can expect mild swelling and some tenderness around your nostrils during this early phase. Keep your head elevated and avoid touching the incision area directly.
Days 4-7
Swelling starts to go down, and any bruising will begin to fade. You will likely have your stitches removed at a follow-up visit during this window.
Week 2
Most patients feel comfortable returning to work and light social activities by this point. You can gently clean the area as directed by our team.
Weeks 3-4
The incision lines continue to soften and blend in with your natural creases. You can slowly return to light exercise, though you should still avoid contact sports.
Month 2
Your nose shape looks much closer to the final result at this stage. Residual firmness around the incision sites continues to ease up gradually over time.
Months 3-6
Final results settle in as scars fully mature and become nearly invisible. You will notice the complete refinement of your nostril shape and overall nasal balance.
Dr. Mark’s Recovery Tips
- Keep your head elevated while sleeping
- Apply cold compresses gently near nostrils
- Avoid blowing your nose for two weeks
- Wear SPF 50 on incision sites outdoors
- Skip glasses that rest on your nose
Why Choose
Dr. Gruszynski for Alarplasty
Dr. Gruszynski is a board-certified plastic surgeon with deep experience in facial procedures, and alarplasty in Phoenix and Scottsdale is one of his specialties. He takes a precise, measurement-based approach to every alar base reduction so your results look natural and balanced with the rest of your features.
What sets him apart is his focus on subtle refinement. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, he tailors the technique, incision placement, and amount of tissue removed to your unique anatomy. This attention to detail is what produces results that look like you, just more balanced.
His Scottsdale office provides a comfortable, private setting where you can ask questions and feel supported from your first visit through your final follow-up. When you choose Dr. Gruszynski, you get a surgeon who treats your goals as the priority at every step.
Frequently Asked
Questions About Alarplasty
Get in Touch!
Do you have questions or are you ready for a consultation? Fill out the form, and our team will reach out to schedule your visit.