African American Rhinoplasty Q&A
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Which is Better for Building Nose Bridge for Afro-Am: Your Own Rib, Frozen Rib, or Ear?

asked 9 months ago by Poetry in Washington, DC
Latest answer by Jon F. Harrell, DO
Question viewed 244 times
Tags: comparison, hump, options, slim down

I'm African American female & considering primary rhinoplasty to slim the bridge & remove a hump from my nose. I've been to several consultations with a few doctors, & each has suggested different types of cartilage they prefer using to raise my nose bridge. One suggested using ear cartilage, another suggested my own rib, and the last suggested frozen rib/cadaver cartilage. But I'm getting mixed reviews on each. So I want to know which cartilage is best for a natural look/feel & longer results?

6 answers to Which is Better for Building Nose Bridge for Afro-Am: Your Own Rib, Frozen Rib, or Ear?

+2

Augmenting Nasal Bridge for African-American Female

Over the last 30 years I have always prefered using the patient's own cartilage. Rib cartilage can be used but this requires another incision on the woman's chest. I usually place diced cartilage from the septum and ear which is wrapped in fascia.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

You need to clarify a few things

Hi, You said that you want a hump removed but then you said you want your bridge built up. Typically dorsal hump removal means the bridge is too high as in a middle eastern or a Jewish nose and removing the hump drops the bridge height down. In most (most but not all) Black patients and Asian patients, the bridge is too low and flat and it requires building it up by adding cartilage. Ear cartilage is not good for the bridge even if many plastic surgeons continue to use... more
Shervin Naderi, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Best Material to Build Up the Nasal Bridge

Manufactured silicone dorsal nasal implants would typically be my first choice to build up a bridge. If sufficient septal cartilage exists to do the job, then I would use that. Properly placed and sized implants have a low complication rate. Ear cartilage can warp and make it difficult to get a nice straight dorsal profile. Rib cartilage can warp or bend over time as well. Each of these materials requires a separate incision and possiblity of donor site morbidity. For the tip of the nose -... more
Jon F. Harrell, DO

Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

+1

African American Rhinoplasty

The questions is unusual due to the fa t you are discussion removing a hump from the bridge which will further reduce the bridge. Photographs would be extremely helpful in providing an expert opinion. With this said I prefer to use a silastic dorsal implant on my African American and Asian patients for enhancing the dorsum. Best regards!
Michael Elam, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Which is bettere to build up the nasal bridge, rib cartilage, ear cartilage or banked cartilage?

I MHO after over 20 years of performing Rhinoplasty, I'd say none of the above. Rib cartilage/bone from you or irradiated from donors or ear cartilage folded on itself because it's curved not straight all have been shown to dissolve unevenly over time. I do not use any of these for that reason and only use straight silastic dorsal implants. These are reliable and will not dissolve.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

African American Rhinoplasty

Hi, The best implant is the one the surgeon is comfortable using and can show you consistant ant results. I have performed African American Rhinoplasty for the past 10 years and always use "custom carved silicone implants". I believe that these implants provide consitant results. Below is a website that I have dedicated for African American rhinoplasty that describes my technique and shows many before and afters. Remember, the type of implant doesn't matter as long as... more
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

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