Internal alarplasty hides incisions inside the nostrils to narrow the base without external scarring. External alarplasty uses incisions along the natural crease where the nose meets the cheek. Surgeons in Seoul typically use the external approach to efficiently reduce flared nostrils and thick tissue.
- Internal method: Surgeons remove a wedge from the nostril floor. It leaves no visible scars.
- External method: Incisions follow the nostril–cheek junction. This allows for more significant reshaping.
- Patient selection: Internal suits thin skin. External is better for thick skin or flared bases.
- Scar recovery: External scars usually fade and become barely noticeable within 2–4 months.
Bookimed Expert Insight: While patients often ask for internal incisions to avoid scars, Bookimed data shows the external approach is standard in Seoul. High-volume clinics like AB Plastic Surgery, treating 24,000+ patients annually, favour this method. It provides more permanent, predictable narrowing for thicker skin types.
Patient Consensus: Surgeons in South Korea strategically place external incisions in the natural crease to keep them discreet. Patients noted that full settling took around 3 months. However, most swelling disappeared within the first week.