Are Grafts Needed in Primary Rhinoplasty?

We perform cartilage grafts such as spreader grafts in many of our rhinoplasty patients. Not all patients need cartilage grafting. If you have a long, thin nose that is susceptible to collapse or is very pinched and narrow preoperatively, yes indeed you will need spreader grafts placed at the time of the surgery. If they are placed in an appropriate fashion, you should never even feel them or notice that they are there, but if you simply have good strong wide cartilages and just simply require a bump removal, some tip work, and osteotomies, then you will not need any cartilage grafts.

Most patients undergoing primary rhinoplasty in my opinion do not need grafts especially when taking down a nasal hump if other structures that support the nose are left intact or reconstituted. However, the use of grafts depends upon what the problem is. If you have ample tissue in your septum, then removing a portion from that part of  your nose and placing it on another part of your nose for tip support or to prevent a breathing problem is often helpful and very safe. You might want to get another opinion to see if grafting is really necessary in your case or ask your surgeon specific reasons why he wants to place grafts and what types they are. I hope this information helps.

Most surgeons use some graft during a primary rhinoplasty, as I do often.  Grafts are placed in different locations and used for different reasons.

There are spreader grafts, tip grafts, alar grafts, columellar grafts and more.

Good luck.