Was an Ear Cartilage Graft Necessary in This Rhinoplasty Scenario?

asked 9 months ago by mockthree in Seattle, WA
Latest answer by Richard W. Fleming, MD
Question viewed 181 times
Tags: accident, cartilage, graft

I suffered an injury to my nose which pushed the cartilage to the side; my nose had a twisted appearance as a result. I had a rhinoplasty to help improve the appearance, i.e., to redistribute cartilage to the other side to achieve balance. To do this my surgeon took ear cartilage to the left side. Was this necessary to rebuild the nose? Couldn't the excess cartilage from the right have been taken to use instead? Or, is it impossible to use certain cartilage once it has been injured?

9 answers to Was an Ear Cartilage Graft Necessary in This Rhinoplasty Scenario?

Ear Cartilage Grafts in Rhinoplasty Surgery

The use of ear cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty surgery after nasal trauma is an acceptable technique. It is impossible to answer your question without evaluating pictures and examining you after the accident. There are always alternative techniques, but all that really counts is the final result.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Very reasonable to use ear cartilage

It is very reasonable to use ear cartolage for your needs. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. see video

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialplastics.info

Was an ear cartilage graft necessary

It is really hard to say whether ear cartilage was "necessary" in your case without being there during your surgery. Ear cartilage is a common grafting source during rhinoplasty, especially if extra support is needed. Septum is commonly used as well but given your injury additional material may have been needed. It isn't our role here to second guess your surgeon. You could certainly ask your surgeon to explain why ear cartilage was needed. I suspect he or she would be... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ear cartilage graft for nose reconstruction was needed!

You partially answered your own question when you stated that the injury "pushed the cartilage to the side." The injury didn't cause your body to build "extra" cartilage where it wasn't needed; rather, the force to the nose distorted normal cartilage structures into a new, "twisted," abnormal position. Layering grafts of cartilage from the septum or ear is a very common way of bringing new tissue into the nose to improve appearance where damaged... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

Ear cartilage grafts and rhinoplasty surgery.

The most common location to harvest cartilage for rhinoplasty grafts is the partition between the left and right nose, called the septum. Septal cartilage is typically the preferred cartilage becuase it is firm and straight. However, sometimes a pre curved graft, such as ear cartilage, are preferred for the sepcific problem at hand. Why your surgeon choose ear cartilage is best answered by them, but the use of ear cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty are common. Best,... more

Philip Miller, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drphilipmiller.com

Cartilage is often "borrowed" from the ear to shape/ support the nose during rhinoplasty

Cartilage is often "borrowed" from the ear to shape/ support the nose during rhinoplasty. This is incredibly common. Depending on the necessary maneuvers cartilage is taken from inside the nose (the septum, most common), the back of the ear and if large amounts of cartilage are needed or no other cartilage source is available, the rib. Taken cartilage from "one side" of the nose to rebuild the other side is typically inadequate as you need significant added structure to... more

Stephen Weber, MD
Lone Tree Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.lonetreefacial.com

Was ear cartilage grfat necessary in my Rhinoplasty?

I have performed Rhinoplasty for over 20 years and I understand that this may be had for you to understand but that type of question is impossible for anyone here to answer. We did not see you before your Rhinoplasty and were not present during that procedure. You really need to have faith in your Rhinoplasty surgeon and his/her decisions because this is what you paid them to do. Medicine and surgery is not cookbook. Every surgeon does things... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ear cartilage as a source for rhinoplasty

It is difficult to say whether your rhinoplasty needed cartilage grafts from the ear, though your surgeon certainly considered all material available, and used what he thought would give the best result. Sometimes the septum does not have what is needed, and the 'trimmings' from one side as the nose is straightened do not have the strength, size, or thickness to fill in where required. Injury can affect what is needed, and when necessary surgeons may look to the ear. Best of luck... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Cartilage for revision rhinoplasty

Crooked noses have memory in the cartilage region. ie they try to go back crooked once fixed. crooked noses usually require grafts to camoflage the assymetry. The ear is a very popular spot to use as donor site. Usually you can not use the cartilage from the other side of the nose as it is malformed as well.