Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors – Strongly Curved Blade for Middle Vault Cartilage Dissection

The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors from Peak Surgicals (price: $4.95 — confirm SKU and size with Peak Surgicals) are a strongly curved German stainless steel rhinoplasty scissor designed specifically for dissection, trimming, and reshaping of the upper lateral cartilages during nasal surgery. The pronounced blade curvature matches the natural curve of the upper lateral cartilage at the junction between the bony nasal dorsum and the cartilaginous nasal sidewall, allowing the surgeon to follow the cartilage's anatomical contour precisely during dissection rather than cutting along a straight or gently curved line that would not track the cartilage's natural shape. This is the third instrument in the Fomon family of rhinoplasty scissors available from Peak Surgicals, alongside the Fomon Angular Scissors (PS-9506, $6.16, 5.25") designed for angled access to septal cartilage, and the Fomon Saber Back Scissors ($6.05) designed for combined blunt-and-sharp dissection at the nasal tip. The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors are used by plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and otolaryngologists during open and closed rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty, and revision rhinoplasty, available in satin, dull, and mirror finishes, reusable, autoclave compatible, and supplied under CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA certification.

Strongly Curved Blade: Matching the Anatomical Contour of the Upper Lateral Cartilage

The defining design feature of the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors is the pronounced curvature of the blade, which is shaped to follow the natural anatomical contour of the upper lateral cartilage rather than cutting along a straight line that would require the surgeon to make a series of short, angled cuts to approximate the cartilage's curved shape. The upper lateral cartilages form the middle vault of the nose, attaching to the undersurface of the nasal bones superiorly and to the upper border of the septal cartilage in the midline, with their caudal edges contributing to the internal nasal valve. Their shape curves from a relatively flat orientation near the nasal bones to a more vertically oriented position as they approach the nasal tip, and surgical access to trim, separate, or reposition these cartilages during rhinoplasty requires an instrument whose cutting line matches this curve. The strongly curved blade of the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors allows the surgeon to make a single continuous cut along the cartilage's curved margin, producing a smoother surgical result with fewer step-offs or irregular edges than would result from approximating the curve with multiple straight cuts. This precision is particularly important when the upper lateral cartilage is being separated from the septum during spreader graft placement, or when the cartilage is being trimmed during dorsal hump reduction and middle vault narrowing procedures.

Clinical Applications in Rhinoplasty Middle Vault Surgery

The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors are used at several specific steps in rhinoplasty that involve the middle third of the nose, known as the middle vault, where the upper lateral cartilages and the dorsal septum together form the supporting structure beneath the nasal dorsum skin. During dorsal hump reduction, after the bony hump is removed with an osteotome or rasp, the cartilaginous component of the hump — typically formed by the upper lateral cartilages and the dorsal septal cartilage — is trimmed using the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors, where the curved blade allows the surgeon to taper the cartilage smoothly from the area of maximal excess to the unaltered cartilage below. During middle vault narrowing, the scissors are used to separate the upper lateral cartilages from the dorsal septum along the curved junction line before the cartilages are repositioned and re-secured in a narrower configuration, often in conjunction with spreader grafts to maintain internal nasal valve patency. In revision rhinoplasty, where scar tissue and altered cartilage anatomy from a previous procedure must be carefully dissected, the curved blade provides controlled access along the remaining upper lateral cartilage margins without requiring excessive instrument manipulation in a field with distorted anatomical landmarks.

German Stainless Steel, Finish Options, and Sterilization

The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors are manufactured from German stainless steel, providing the blade edge sharpness and curvature retention required for precise cartilage cutting through repeated sterilization cycles. The strongly curved blade geometry is more susceptible to misalignment from mechanical stress than a straight blade, making manufacturing precision and material rigidity particularly important for maintaining the intended cutting curve over the instrument's service life. The instrument is available in satin, dull, and mirror surface finishes — satin and dull finishes reduce glare under the operating headlight or loupe magnification used during rhinoplasty, while mirror finish provides maximum corrosion resistance and ease of inspection. All three finishes are compatible with steam autoclave sterilization. As with other curved cartilage scissors, the hinge mechanism should be inspected periodically to confirm the blades continue to meet along their full curved length without gapping at the tip or heel, since uneven blade contact along a curved cutting edge produces an uneven, tearing cut rather than the clean division required for cartilage work.

CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA Certification

The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors are manufactured under CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA compliant quality standards. ISO 13485 certification confirms Peak Surgicals operates a documented quality management system covering German stainless steel material traceability, curved blade geometry dimensional tolerancing, and manufacturing process controls for reusable rhinoplasty instruments. CE Mark confirms conformity with EU MDR requirements for reusable non-powered surgical instruments. FDA compliance supports procurement for US plastic surgery centres, facial plastic surgery practices, and otolaryngology departments requiring verified regulatory documentation. Class I instrument classification, 1-year warranty, OEM availability, and MOQ of 1 piece support both institutional rhinoplasty instrument tray procurement and individual surgeon replacement ordering.

Product Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the upper lateral cartilage and why does it require a specifically curved scissor?
The upper lateral cartilages form the middle third of the nose, known as the middle vault — they attach to the undersurface of the nasal bones superiorly, to the dorsal border of the septal cartilage in the midline, and their caudal margins help form the internal nasal valve, the narrowest cross-sectional area of the nasal airway and a common site of functional nasal obstruction if narrowed excessively during surgery. The cartilage curves from a relatively flat orientation near the nasal bones to a more vertical orientation toward the nasal tip, following the changing cross-sectional shape of the nose along its length. A straight scissor cutting along this curved structure would require multiple short, angled cuts to approximate the curve, risking an irregular, step-off edge that can be visible or palpable beneath the skin after healing, and that may compromise the structural support the cartilage provides to the middle vault. The strongly curved blade of the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors allows a single smooth cut that follows the cartilage's natural curve, producing a more anatomically consistent surgical result.

At what step of rhinoplasty are the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors used?
The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors are most commonly used during dorsal hump reduction, after the bony component of the hump has been removed with an osteotome, rasp, or rongeur. The cartilaginous component of the hump, formed by the cephalic portions of the upper lateral cartilages and the dorsal septum, is then trimmed with the curved scissors to create a smooth, continuous dorsal line from the bony vault to the cartilaginous middle vault. The instrument is also used during middle vault narrowing procedures, where the upper lateral cartilages are separated from their attachment to the dorsal septum along the curved junction before being repositioned medially and secured in a narrower configuration, frequently in combination with spreader grafts placed between the septum and the cartilages to preserve internal nasal valve function. In revision rhinoplasty, the scissors are used to carefully dissect along residual upper lateral cartilage margins in a surgical field altered by scar tissue from the previous procedure.

How does this instrument relate to the Fomon Angular Scissors and Fomon Saber Back Scissors also available from Peak Surgicals?
All three instruments are part of the Fomon family of rhinoplasty scissors, each addressing a different anatomical target and access requirement within the same procedure. The Fomon Angular Scissors (PS-9506, $6.16, 5.25"/13.35cm) feature an angled blade-to-shaft relationship for access to the deeper septal cartilage, where a straight instrument would force an awkward hand position. The Fomon Saber Back Scissors ($6.05) feature an asymmetric blunt-upper, sharp-lower blade design for combined palpation and cutting during nasal tip soft tissue dissection. The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors (this product, $4.95) feature a strongly curved blade specifically shaped to match the upper lateral cartilage's anatomical contour for middle vault work. A complete rhinoplasty instrument tray typically includes all three, with the surgeon selecting the appropriate Fomon pattern depending on whether the surgical step involves the septum, the nasal tip, or the middle vault.

Why is precise, single-pass cutting important for cartilage compared to other soft tissues?
Cartilage differs from soft tissue in that it does not have the same capacity to remodel or smooth out irregular edges during healing — once cartilage is cut, the resulting edge largely retains its shape, and an uneven or step-off edge created during surgery can remain palpable or visible beneath the thin skin of the nasal dorsum and middle vault for the patient's lifetime. This is in contrast to soft tissue, where some degree of remodelling and scar contracture during healing can mask minor surgical irregularities. For this reason, rhinoplasty surgeons prioritise instruments like the Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors that allow a single, smooth, anatomically matched cut over instruments that would require multiple approximating cuts, since each additional cut increases the risk of an uneven final cartilage contour that becomes a permanent, visible, or palpable feature of the surgical result.

What certifications does this instrument carry?
The Fomon Upper Lateral Scissors carry CE Mark, ISO 13485, and FDA compliance certification. CE Mark confirms conformity with EU MDR requirements for reusable non-powered surgical instruments. ISO 13485 certification confirms Peak Surgicals maintains a quality management system covering German stainless steel material traceability, curved blade geometry dimensional tolerancing, and manufacturing process controls for reusable plastic surgery and ENT instruments. FDA compliance supports procurement for US plastic surgery centres, facial plastic surgery practices, and otolaryngology departments requiring verified regulatory documentation. Class I instrument classification, 1-year warranty, MOQ of 1 piece, and OEM availability satisfy institutional and individual surgeon procurement requirements for rhinoplasty instrument sets.