Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty in Korea

Autologous costal cartilage may be advantageous when there is insufficient septal or ear cartilage, or when significant structural support is needed due to revision surgery or contracture. Costal cartilage is available in abundant quantities and can help establish a firm support structure for the nasal bridge and tip.

Revision rhinoplasty often involves cases where tissue is insufficient or support structure has collapsed from previous surgery, making autologous costal cartilage useful for providing strong structural support. Prioritizing autologous tissue can help minimize the risk of contracture and foreign body reaction compared to synthetic implants.

Silicone is relatively simple for elevating the nasal bridge to a desired height, but foreign body sensation and contracture are possible. Autologous costal cartilage, being the patient's own tissue, carries lower risk of foreign body reaction and provides strong support to adequately support the nose tip; however, it requires harvesting and is relatively complex to process. The appropriate method depends on the individual's nasal condition.

Since cartilage is harvested through an incision below the chest, a scar may form at the incision site. The degree of scarring and healing pattern vary among individuals, and sutures at the harvest site are removed approximately 2 weeks later. Detailed information can be provided during consultation.

Sutures on the nose area are removed approximately 7 days after surgery, while sutures at the harvest site are removed approximately 2 weeks later. Return to daily activities is possible about 7 days after surgery. Follow-up visits are needed 2-3 times, and hospitalization is not necessary. Swelling and recovery may vary depending on the individual.

To prevent nose tip pinching, it is important to consider support structure design, skin thickness, and overall proportion together. Based on 3D CT precise diagnosis, the autologous costal cartilage support structure is designed to match the individual's nasal condition, aiming to create a natural-looking nose tip.

Not always. If the support required is not great and there is enough septal or ear cartilage, the procedure is sometimes done with that tissue alone. Rib cartilage is advantageous when tissue is insufficient or strong support is needed, as in revisions or contracture, and which is right is decided after checking cartilage volume and nasal condition with 3D CT.

We harvest only as much rib cartilage as needed and close the harvest site with sutures, which are removed after about 2 weeks. Recovery at the harvest site, such as pain or scarring, varies from person to person and is checked at regular follow-up visits. If anything concerns you, mention it at your pre-surgery consultation and we will reflect it in the plan.

Results with costal cartilage can vary depending on how it is processed and how the graft is designed, so carefully shaping it to fit the nose is important. The possibility of change over time cannot be completely eliminated, so the shape is checked through regular follow-up after surgery. The degree of change varies by individual.

Autologous rib cartilage is harvested from your own ribs, while donor rib cartilage can be used without a separate harvesting incision. Edition prioritizes autologous tissue as a principle, but decides on the material based on the amount of tissue available and the support required. We will explain which material is suitable during your consultation.

One of the cases suited to autologous costal cartilage rhinoplasty is when usable autologous tissue has run short after multiple nose surgeries. Rib cartilage can generally be harvested in ample amounts, so it is used to rebuild collapsed support structures. However, whether it is possible is judged by considering both the health of the nose and your overall health.

Cases where the bridge is fine but the nasal tip support structure needs reinforcing are also included. We determine the extent of the graft after checking the support the tip requires and the skin thickness. The surgery time and cost vary depending on the extent.

The surgery takes about 2 to 3 hours and is performed under sedation. Because it includes harvesting autologous costal cartilage, it tends to take longer than standard rhinoplasty, and the anesthesia method may vary depending on the scope of surgery.

If you take any medications or have chronic conditions, please let us know in advance so we can reflect them in the plan, and it helps to bring notes on any previous nose surgery (date, materials used, and the clinic where it was performed). We first check the structure of the nasal bone and cartilage and the amount of usable tissue with 3D CT.

Regular follow-up takes place at 1 day, 5 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, and in between you can ask about your progress via WhatsApp. We check both the nose and the donor site, and recovery speed varies from person to person.

There are complications that can generally occur after surgery, such as bleeding, infection, and inflammation, and their degree varies from person to person. Scarring and pain at the rib cartilage harvest site may also vary from person to person, so please decide after a thorough consultation.

It depends on the harvest area, the graft area, and whether it is a revision. Once the surgical plan is set through 3D CT diagnosis and consultation, our consultation manager will explain it.