See where the incision line is hidden inside the nose in order to place alar batten grafts.

When surgically addressing external valve weakness or collapse with alar batten grafts there are two approaches to placing the cartilage grafts. If there are other reasons to use an open surgical approach I tend to use a hidden, closed incision to allow me to create the necessary pocket in the supra-alar crease. While it's easier to show where an open rhinoplasty incision line is placed, today I wanted to show you a photo of where the incision is located.

Marginal incision line

The photo below shows where the closed incision line is made inside the nose in order to place alar batten grafts. 

This marginal incision is located just along the lower edge of the lower lateral cartilage along the roof of the nose. You can see how this area is nicely hidden inside the nostril.  To place the batten graft I'm able to dissect just above the lower lateral cartilage to then reach the area of lateral nasal wall weakness. A precisely sized pocket is then made into which the cartilage graft is then inserted.