How Long After Your Primary Rhinoplasty Will Cartilage Reabsorb?

asked 10 months ago by Puppy321 in fort lauderdale, florida
Latest answer by Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Question viewed 452 times
Tags: absorption, cartilage, timing

For my primary rhinoplasty, my PS made an incision in my hair and took cartilage from the layer underneath my hair and he also used ear cartilage. How long will it be until the cartilage reabsorbs? (if it will happen)

9 answers to How Long After Your Primary Rhinoplasty Will Cartilage Reabsorb?

Cartilage resorption after rhinoplasty.

Cartilage resorption after rhinoplasty is complete by 1 year. It depends on how the cartilage was done as to how much remains at 1 year.

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Cartilage Graft Resorption in Rhinoplasty

Hi Pup, The graft taken from under your hairline is most likely a temporalis fascia graft which may be used to cover other cartilage grafts or wrap diced cartilage grafts. In the ideal situation, the grafts are permanent and do not reabsorb. There is not an expected time for graft resorption, though it may occur. Hope that you enjoy your new nose and that your grafts last your lifetime. Good luck and be well. Dr. P

Michael A. Persky, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Cartilage is ideal for rhinoplasty

The nice thing about cartilage for nasal shaping is that it does not reabsorb or change shape. It is very stable and can be very natural if used in the proper way. Your ear cartilage should be OK. By the way, there is no cartilage beneath your hair. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Cartilage resorption following Rhinoplasty

Cartilage resorption with cartilage grafts is not a desirable or expected outcome. The cartilage was placed there to provide nasal support and presumably to shape the nasal tip. Some cartilage resorption may happen over a year but it is usually a small amount and not enough to be clinically significant i.e. to affect the nasal appearance or structure. In this way, cartilage grafting is a pretty reliable way of influencing the structure, appearance and function of... more

James C. Marotta, MD
Long Island Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.marottamd.com

How long for cartilage grafts to absorb after Rhinoplasty?

From what you're describing the grfat taken from beneath your scalp was not cartiage but fascia or the thick muscle covering that IMHO will certainly absorb most likely within a few years after your Rhinoplasty. The era graft if used in the nasal tip is stable however, if used on the nasal bridge it also has a tendency to absorb unevenly over years.

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

Cartilage Absorption after Rhinoplasty

From what you describe, temporal fascia (soft tissue that overlies the temporal muscles) was harvested and wrapped around the ear cartilage in the hope of smoothing out the cartilage and perhaps help it to last longer. I am not a huge fan of ear cartilage, as it can resorb, usually quicker than with septal cartilage, but sometimes it can be permanent. I usually prefer to use Gore-tex, a great implant that works great and prefer it to cartilage in most cases.

Jeffrey Epstein MD, FACS
Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgeryoftheface.com

Cartilage Grafts: do they resorb or change shape?

The graft I commonly use that requires an incision in the scalp is something called "temporalis fascia"-- a soft, thin tissue that can be used alone or with cartilage grafts to help fill in areas of the nose. It is a great technique when used right. The material is your own and very safe and lasts forever. This does not mean that there will not be shape changes over time. As the skin and muscle layer over the grafts heals and contracts, the grafts can... more

Michael Suzman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.westmedgroup.com

Cartilage Reabsorption is Rare

The tissue taken from under your scalp was probably fascia, however, the tissue taken from your ear is indeed cartilage. If your concern is about the size of your nose and swelling, then you have to allow upwards of a year for all swelling to resolve. This is a gradual process so the more time goes by, the less swelling you will have. Some fluctuations in swelling may occur based on your sodium intake, sun exposure and other factors. If your question is truly about... more

Paul K. Holden, MD
Phoenix Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.HoldenFace.com

Nasal Grafts used in rhinoplasty.

From the description that you have provided. it sounds like your surgeon performed a rhinoplasty with nasal bridge augmentation with the use of auricular cartilage and temporalis fascia. The auricular cartilage from your ear was used to provide bulk and structure to the bridge of your nose, and the temporalis fascia (the piece of tissue taken from beneath your hair) is used to provide some fullness but mostly used to camouflage the cartilage grafts that are placed. The good news... more