Not Enough Cartilage on my Ears for Asian Rhinoplasty? Doctor Answers, Tips
Asian Rhinoplasty: Q&A
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Not Enough Cartilage on my Ears for Asian Rhinoplasty?

My body's extremely sensitive to medications and even reacts to adhesives such as bandaids. During a rhinoplasty consult the surgeon told me that I do not have enough cartilage on my ears to make my nose look "pretty." He suggested to improve my Asian nose, he would narrow the base, elevate the bridge and add a tip. He tried to convince me that silicone is safe and well tolerated by most but knowing my weird body, I am skeptical...What is the best and safest method to improve my typical flat Asian nose?

10 Doctor Answers | Asked by Skeptical326 in Orange County, CA
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Allergic reaction to solid silicone should be extremely rare.

I understand your concern about possibility of your body having an allergic reaction to silicone implants since your body is "extremely sensitive to medications". Fortunately, risk of having an allergic reaction to solid silicone is and should be extremely minimal since soild silicone is an inert material and should not trigger allergic reactions. Silicone definitely has its share of drawbacks, like any other material options, but when it's done well on good patient candidates , it can... more
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Silicone or Ear Cartilage, why and when.

Please understand that what I have to say is my opinion, other surgeons may differ and may differ strongly. I do not like silicone implants. Over the years I have seen many patients who had them placed and ultimately had infections, often many years later. The implant can start to come out with even the slightest trauma. The treatment is removal of the implant and antibiotics. I prefer cartilage implants. This is your own tissue, and it becomes integrated into... more
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Cartilage for Asian Rhinoplasty

Over the past 35 years I've never seen an Asian patient who did not have enough ear cartilage to augment their nose as long as it was not reconstructive surgery. I strongly recommend that you do not use silicone implants to avoid the increased risks of infection, movement, and extrusion.

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Your own cartilage is best and safest for asian rhinoplasty

Since your emphasis is on safety, there is no doubt that your own tissue is the safest material. I use ear cartilage almost exclusively for the entire nasal augmentation. Occasionally a portion of the second ear is needed (10% or less). I prefer the ear rather than rib due to the ease of obtaining the material and also the suppleness of ear cartilage (unless the rib cartilage is diced). I have yet to meet a patient without prior surgery who needed more than ear cartilage. more
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Asian nose and augmentation

I prefer using rib cartilage or irradiated cartilage to augment the nose. They both work well and each has positive and negatives to deal with.
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Not Enough Cartilage on my Ears for Asian Rhinoplasty?

I frequently perform "Asian Rhinoplasty" and use both straight silastic dorsal implants as well as septal cartilage. IMHO, it is well documented that ear cartilage folded (since it is curved in the ear) as well as rib or irradiated cartialge does absorb unevenly over the years and as such, I do not use or recvommend these materials for dorsal augmentation. These are some of the differences between Rhinoplasty Surgeons and you should have severral consultations with experienced... more
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Small ears

Depending on the amount of cartilage you can usually obtain enough from the nasal septum and the ear combined. If not you can use rib cartilage. All these have low rejection and infection rate. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
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Asian rhinoplasty

It's always safest to use your own cartilage. If you have never had nasal surgery before you likely will have enough cartilage in your nose and ears. The diced cartilage in fascia technique works well in Asian patients but there are other ways to use your cartilage as well. If necessary you can use your rib cartilage. That may sound extreme but you want to get this right the first time and never have to do it again so a little extra recovery now will pay off in the future. more
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Safest method of dorsal augmentation during Asian rhinoplasty

A silicone implant will carry with it a higher risk of infection, extrusion (eroding through the skin), and migration (moving from its ideal position) than an autologous graft (made from your own body). Dorsal augmentation (building your bridge) with diced cartilage wrapped in fascia provides predictable, reliable, consistently excellent results and becomes incorporated fully into your nose, unlike silicone.
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Asian Rhinoplasty

Building up a higher bridge and a more defined tip is a very common request from Asian patients as well as alar base reduction. My preference is always to achieve a natural looking nose that fits the rest of your face. I find that the silicone implants look quite unnatural. I've also seen many unhappy patients who want revision surgery after having implants placed from another surgeon or in Asia because of the appearance or from a complication (infection, extrusion,... more
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