A Comparison of the Tongue-in-Groove and Modified Alar Spanning Suture in Creating and Maintaining Tip Projection and Rotation

Background: The tongue-in-groove technique and alar spanning suture are two popular rhinoplasty techniques for adjusting tip rotation and projection. Herein we compared the long-term results of these two techniques on tip projection and rotation. Methods: A prospective review was undertaken. 41 patients who had undergone rhinoplasty from 2016 to 2019 were included in this study. Among them, 26 patients had undergone tongue-in-groove technique as the main method to create ideal tip rotation and projection and an alar spanning suture, incorporating the dorsal septum, was used in remainder. Using pre and postoperative photographs, tip rotation and projection were evaluated and compared between two groups after one year. Results: The patients mean age was 31.4±7.6 years. Thirty-one (75.6%) of the patients were female. The mean follow up was 11±2.9 months. The tongue-in-groove technique group had significantly better tip rotation results (p value= 0.028), but there was not a significant difference in their projection. Conclusion: According to our results, the tongue-in-groove technique is a more effective tool for creating of an ideal tip rotation when compared to reconstitution of tip support with an alar-spanning suture that incorporates the supratip septum.