Where are the incisions made in a rhinoplasty? where are the incisions located for a rhinoplasty, and do the scars show afterward?

The : The incision location depends a bit on whether you have an open or closed rhinoplasty approach. The closed incisions are all hidden inside the nose. The open incision adds one small incision across the columella. Check out my link below that explains the incision placement in more detail.

In : In a closed approach all the incisions , and therefore the scars, are hidden within the nose. In an open approach a single external scar (often only 4-6 mm) is typically placed in a "shadow zone" of the nose in the narrowest portion of the columella ( bridge of skin between nostrils). This scar typically heals very well and not usually seen on frontal view unless the nasal tip has been overrotated (not a desired goal). It is possible, however, to have an unsightly scar if care is not taken in carefully realigning the skin edges. This usually would manifest as a step-off deformity, widened, or depressed scar. This is a rare occurrence, however. Additionally, if your surgeon needs to narrow the distance between your nasal sidewalls, this is often done with external incisions(weir). You should fully discuss and understand the operative plan ahead of time with your rhinoplastic surgeon.

Minimal: Rhinoplasty incisions are made inside the nose. Your surgeon may make a small incision in the columella, which is almost imperceptible.

More on external: The other answers address differences between open and closed (endonasal) approaches. The open or external incision is shaped like an inverted "v" or "w" shape to break up the incision line. This creates a well camouflaged scar that is less noticeable than a straight line and more symmetric than a stepped incision. A well designed incision should leave a well hidden scar.