Is A Medpor Implant Right For Me To Reduce My Ethnic Look? (photo)

asked 7 months ago by tonto0009 in Calgary, Canada
Latest answer by Jon F. Harrell, DO
Question viewed 385 times
Tags: ethnic, Medpor

As you can see from the image, my nose is very wide, thick skin, and large nostrils. I'll like to make modest changes and retain my ethnic look. A surgeon recommended Medpor implants and nostril reduction under general anesthesia as my ONLY option. My research on Medpor implants and the idea of general anesthesia is a little unsettling. I will consult other physicians for more opinions but I just wanted to get your thoughts. Thanks in advance.

11 answers to Is A Medpor Implant Right For Me To Reduce My Ethnic Look? (photo)

Medpor Nasal Implant

You have a number of options available to you and you are wise to get additional opinions. Surgeons have differing approaches to nasal surgery. Some will recommend general anesthesia and other will recommend sedation or even local anesthesia. As concerns augmentation of the nasal bridge most surgeons will prefer tissue such as cartilage to accomplish this. However, implants such as Medpor and Silicone do have a role in this area. Implants have their benefits and disadvantages. Implants can... more

Jon F. Harrell, DO
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

Medpor Rhinoplasty

Studies have shown up to a 50% complication rate with the use of Medpor for ear reconstruction and there is most probably a similar complication rate with rhinoplasty. The most detrimental complication is extrusion of the implant throught the skin. I would advise against Medpor in the nose and instead use autologous tissue.

Jacob Freiman, MD
Miami Beach Plastic Surgeon

Medpor implants not recommended

We do not use Medpor implants in our practice due to the higher than normal infection rates compared to silastic implants. We do not routinely use piriform nasal base implants, only in very select cases. The alarplasty procedure is performed under a local anesthesia to reduce the nostril width and does not need any general anesthesia whatsoever.

William Portuese, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Is Medpor implant absolutely needed for conservative nasal augmentation?

If you want a conservative change to your nose keeping your racial characteristics, you do not need a Medpor implant. Your surgery can be done with local anesthesia. You need your nostrils narrowed by resecting the base of your nostrils. You also need increased tip projection and shaping that can be done with cartilage grafts and sutures. If you need your nasal dorsum augmented, there are many choices including septal cartilage and other variation of cartilage grafts. I think this is what... more

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD
Morristown Plastic Surgeon

Medpor implants for the ethnic nose.

There are many options for increasing the height of the nose (nasal dorsum) to reduce your ethnic look. Foreign materials such as Medpor and silicone are to be avoided. The problem with these materials is that they are never fully incorporated into your body. This means that you can have a problem with infection and possible extrusion even years later. Using your own body cartilage is by far and away the best way of reducing your ethnic look.... more

Donald M. Brown, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

Medpor Implants and Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Hi, I have been performing Ethnic and African American Rhinoplasty for the last 15 years. Most if not all of my surgery is performed under local anesthesia with sedation. There are many implant choices but the one i prefer is custom carved silicone implants. They are easy to shape and look great. Also, unlike medpor implants, if they get infected or need to be removed, this is easily performed under local anesthesia. As for the tip and nostril, I would recommend tip defatting and... more

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

Medpor nasal implants

It would be beneficial to increase the height of your nasal dorsum. There are several options to achieve the increase in height.. I think implants may be valuable in specific cases however I personally am not a fan of medpor in the nose. I typically utilize iv sedation for rhinoplasty.

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Medpore

I have had excellent results with Medpore implants in ethnic noses. The advantage is a permanent solution that will be smooth and will not shift, resorb, or warp as cartilage sometimes does. The disadvantage of an artificial implant is a small lifetime risk of infection (about 1 in 50 patients). I prefer sedation anesthesia for less bleeding and a quicker recovery, but don't force your surgeon into using a technique he is not comfortable with.

J. Charles Finn, MD
Raleigh-Durham Facial Plastic Surgeon

Run away fast!

Hi, If a surgeon recommends a Medpor implant for your nose - RUN! Implants do not belong in the nose usually but the worst one of them all is Medpor. It is horribly tough to remove and gets glued in and it has a higher risk of infection than natural cartilage.

Shervin Naderi, MD
Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon

No reason why you need an implant

We do a lot of ethnic rhinoplasty in patients like you. Depending on how much of a change you are looking for there is a range of things that can be done. The problem with medpor implants is that long term you can have significant issues and problems and since their are many better options using your own cartilage, we would recommend seeking out other opinions. All the best, Peyman Solieman, MD

Peyman Solieman, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ethnic Rhinoplasty Without Synthetic Implant

I see no reason why you would absolutely need a synthetic implant for your rhinoplasty. The concept of its use is to significantly increase the height of your nasal dorsum and tip projection. But in consideration of your goals of only a more modest change, some tip narrowing and some slight dorsal augmentation can be done using your own cartilage. A nostril reduction as part of that rhinoplasty would be very helpful as well. While that could be done under IV sedation or general anesthesia, I... more