Nasal obstruction is a common problem. Normal nasal breathing involves the interaction of static and dynamic forces, including the nasal septum, lateral nasal walls, and nasal mucosa. Although many patients who present for rhinoplasty evaluation have predominantly aesthetic concerns, many patients are also concerned for nasal airway obstruction. In addition, postoperative airway compromise can detract significantly from an otherwise good aesthetic surgical result. As such, preoperative analysis of the nasal airway is an imperative step in operative planning even if the patient does not necessarily raise concerns over this issue. Modern rhinoplasty techniques allow for success in both nasal aesthetics and function, improving the quality of life functionally and cosmetically as well as allowing for mutual satisfaction of patient and surgeon alike. 1 It is therefore a paramount consideration in surgical planning. When evaluating patients with nasal obstruction, the most important variable of nasal airflow is the diameter of the nasal passage. The key to a successful surgical correction of nasal obstruction is diagnosing the precise anatomic point of collapse. 2 Causes of nasal obstruction with particular relevance for rhinoplasty surgeons are discussed later.