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Nose Lab Clinic | Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea – Intranasal Mass Removal Case

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##Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea : A Complex Nasal Mass Removal Case

Hello, this is Dr. Cha-Young Kang, Medical Director at Nose Lab Clinic.


Today, I am sharing a remarkable case of a patient who had been told by multiple hospitals that surgery was not possible due to a persistent nasal mass. We successfully performed complete removal and achieved a safe, stable recovery.


## Surgical History : Multiple Failed Surgeries Before Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

📍 Surgical History

Before closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Frontal, left side, and oblique side views
Design consultation photos: Frontal view, left side view, and oblique side view.

1st Surgery (2020)

  • OsteoPore, G-Mesh insertion → Resulted in deformation

Asymmetrical nostrils after the 1st surgery using OsteoPore and G-Mesh in December 2020.
December 2020

2nd Surgery (2021)

  • OsteoPore, G-Mesh removal

  • Auricular cartilage graft → Contracture developed

Frontal view after the 2nd surgery with OsteoPore and G-Mesh removal and auricular cartilage graft in August 2021.
August 2021
Nostril view after the 2nd surgery with OsteoPore and G-Mesh removal and auricular cartilage graft in August 2021.
August 2021

3rd Surgery (2022)

  • Auricular cartilage graft → Deformation

Nostril view after the 3rd surgery with auricular cartilage graft in May 2022.
May 2022

4th Surgery (2023)

  • Dermal-fat graft (from lower abdomen)

  • Development of mass in the left nostril

Nostril view after the 4th surgery with dermal-fat graft in December 2023.
December 2023
Nostril view after the 4th surgery, showing mass development in the left nostril in February 2024.
February 2024

5th Surgery (2024)

  • Laser treatment attempted

  • Mass continued to grow

Nostril view on postoperative day 1 after the 5th surgery in July 2024, showing persistent mass in the left nostril.
July 2024 – Postoperative Day 1
Nostril view one week after the 5th surgery in July 2024, showing persistent mass in the left nostril.
July 2024 – 1 Week After Surgery

## Initial Assessment Before Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

🔎 Initial Assessment

Before closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Right oblique side, right side, and nostril views
Design consultation photos: Right oblique side view, right side view, and nostril view.

Patient Profile

  • 27-year-old female

  • Previously advised by other hospitals that surgery was not possible

Primary Concerns

  • Intranasal mass obstructing the left nostril

  • Progressive enlargement over several years

  • Potential malignancy suspected

  • Severe nasal obstruction

External Hospital Opinions

  • Surgery deemed too risky

  • Recommended observation only

Special Considerations

  • Need to rule out malignancy

  • Histopathological confirmation essential

  • Complete excision critical to prevent recurrence


## Patient's Goals for Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

✨ Patient Goals

  • Complete mass removal

  • Prevent recurrence

  • Safe surgical outcome


## Surgical Process of Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

💉 Surgical Details (November 26, 2024)

Complete Mass Removal

  • Precise excision of the obstructing intranasal mass

  • Preservation of surrounding healthy tissue

  • Clean resection margins ensured

Histopathological Examination

  • Detailed pathological analysis for malignancy exclusion

  • Collaboration with pathology department for expedited results

Foreign Body Removal

  • Complete removal of residual implants from prior surgeries

  • Elimination of all inflammation-inducing materials

  • Ensured a clean surgical environment

Nasal Tip Cartilage Refinement

  • Structural reinforcement of the nasal tip

  • Reconstruction to prevent recurrence

  • Restoration of natural nasal contour

Stem Cell Therapy

  • Promoted tissue regeneration of damaged areas

  • Minimized postoperative inflammation

  • Supported accelerated healing


## Surgical Outcomes After Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

✅ Surgical Outcomes

Histopathology Results

  • Confirmed chronic inflammatory tissue

  • Malignancy conclusively ruled out

  • Provided significant relief to the patient and family

Before and immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Front view
Before (Left) / Immediately After (Right)

Successful Mass Removal

  • Clean and complete excision

  • Restored normal nasal shape

  • Marked improvement in nasal airflow

Before and immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Side view
Before (Left) / Immediately After (Right)

Stable Recovery without Recurrence

  • No signs of recurrence to date

  • Smooth, stable healing process

  • Healthy tissue regeneration confirmed

Before and immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Oblique side view
Before (Left) / Immediately After (Right)

Surgical Success

  • Successfully performed surgery deemed impossible elsewhere

  • Achieved complete mass removal

  • High patient satisfaction

Before and immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Nostril view
Before (Left) / Immediately After (Right)

## Specialist's Commentary on Closed Rhinoplasty in Korea

👨‍⚕️ Specialist’s Commentary

Immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Frontal, side, and oblique side views
Immediately after surgery: Frontal view, side view, and oblique side view photos.
Immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Nostril view
Immediately after surgery: Nostril view photo.













This was a particularly meaningful case, as the patient had been turned away by multiple hospitals due to the high surgical risk. The mass had been gradually enlarging over several years, raising concerns about potential malignancy.


The priority was obtaining an accurate diagnosis. Given the progressive nature of the mass, malignancy could not be excluded until complete excision and thorough pathology were performed. Fortunately, histopathology confirmed that the mass was chronic inflammatory tissue, not a tumor, providing immense relief for the patient and her family.


The reason other hospitals declined surgery was the complexity of the case: the mass’s location, its size, and tissue damage from repeated prior surgeries made the procedure extremely challenging. In such confined anatomical spaces, achieving complete excision while preserving surrounding healthy tissue requires highly advanced surgical expertise.


The chronic inflammatory mass likely developed as a result of prior implants and prolonged inflammatory responses. The patient’s surgical history indicated that the mass began forming after a dermal-fat graft in 2023, suggesting a chronic foreign body reaction as the primary cause.


The key to surgical success was complete, meticulous removal of the mass. Any residual tissue could have led to recurrence, so we approached the procedure with utmost precision, ensuring no trace remained while protecting healthy nasal structures.


Incorporating stem cell therapy was also a critical decision, as it accelerated healing and minimized inflammatory complications, particularly important in complex revision cases with prior scarring.


To date, the patient has experienced stable healing with no recurrence. Nasal airflow has normalized, and the nostril’s shape has been successfully restored.


This case is a meaningful example that demonstrates even surgeries deemed impossible by other hospitals can achieve excellent outcomes with accurate diagnosis, meticulous surgical planning, and advanced techniques.


A secondary surgery for aesthetic enhancement without implants is planned for April 2025, aiming to further refine the nasal shape while maintaining the current stable condition.


Thank you.Dr. Cha-Young KangMedical Director, Nose Lab Clinic


Before and immediately after closed rhinoplasty in Korea – Side view
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