Alar base

The alar base is the lower outer portion of the nose where the nostrils meet the cheeks and upper lip. Its width, shape, and symmetry influence how the nose looks from the front and from below. During a rhinoplasty evaluation, the surgeon looks at the distance between the nostril bases, the amount of alar flare, the shape of each nostril, and how the base relates to the rest of the face.

A wide alar base does not always need to be changed, and there is no single measurement that is right for every patient. Facial width, ethnicity, lip shape, tip projection, and personal goals all matter. In some cases, the base appears wide because the nostrils flare outward. In others, the nostril sill or the position of the alae contributes more to the overall width.