Rhinoplasty Q&A
80%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
1,003 Reviews
Rhinoplastybefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Rhinoplasty Cost: $5,975

Learn about Rhinoplasty

5,053 people and 803 doctors are talking about Rhinoplasty

Get Free Email Updates

What Percentage of Rhinoplasties Need Cartilage Grafts from Ear or Rib?

asked 2 years ago by AGG in BCN
Latest answer by Jay Calvert, MD
Question viewed 511 times
Tags: cartilage

17 answers to What Percentage of Rhinoplasties Need Cartilage Grafts from Ear or Rib?

+1

Percent of rhinoplasties requiring ear or rib grafts.

 In our practice the number is higher since 50% of our patients have had surgery elsewhere and are revisions. Most of the time the grafts can be taken from the septum. Often we go to the ear when there is not enough cartilage in the septum due to prior surgery. We almost never use rib grafts.
Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

+1

Grafting of cartilage to the nose

Ear and Rib cartilage are used in varying percentages depending on the problem.  In primary rhinoplasty, ear and rib are less common unless there is some reason why the septum is not a good donor site for the cartialge required.  In secondary rhinoplasty, the percentage of ear and rib goes up, probably on the order of 15 to 50 % depending on the problem and previous surgery.  Many times in secondary rhinoplasty, the septum has not been touched so this becomes a good donor site... more
Jay Calvert, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Grafts from other sites for primary rhinoplasty

Whether grafts are needed from sources other than the nose depends on how much support or augmentation is needed and how much septal cartilage is available.  With asian rhinoplasty need for ear or rib grafts approaches 50%.  In this example there was need for major tip support and the septal cartilage was inadequate.
Sam Naficy, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Use of rib or ear cartilage for rhinoplasty

I have never had to use rib or ear cartilage for a primary rhinoplasty with a patient who has had no trauma or cocaine use. The cartilage from the septum is adequate. These cartilages are used more often for secondary or multiple previous surgeries.
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

Small percentage of rhinoplasties need cartilage grafts from ear or rib

    Very few primary rhinoplasties need ear cartilage grafts or rib cartilage grafts.  Ear and rib cartilage is only used after the nose and septum have been depleted of excess cartilage.  Patients who undergo revision rhinoplasties have a higher chance of needing cartilage grafts from the ear or rib.
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.seattlefacial.com

+1

Each grafting source provides unique advantages

In my practice, I use septal cartilage in about 90% of the time, ear cartilage about 30% of the time and rib cartilage about 30% of the time. The decision of which source to use (and sometimes I will need to take from more than one site) depends on a few things: 1. How much overall material I will need. As a surgeon who uses a structural philosophy, I tend to need more material in order to keep the nose strong while aesthetically balanced. Rib provides the most material, but does involve... more
David W. Kim, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Percentage of grafts for rhinoplasty

I can not give you a definite number or percentage of how many rhinoplasty patients need ear or rib cartilage. If grafts are needed they are usually obtained from the septum. If they are secondary procedures, they may need to be taken from the rib or ear.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Percentage of Rhinoplasties with Cartilage Grafts

I'm not aware of any national statistics on the percentage of patients who need cartilage grafts with rhinoplasty surgery. In our practice, it is very high because 60% of our rhinoplasty patients are having revisions of surgery done before we've seen them. Some ethnic groups, such as Asians, need cartilage augmentation with their primary surgery. It is fair to say that cartilage grafting is very common.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cartilage Grafts

It is hard to give you a percentage. Most rhinoplasty patients can have cartilage used from their nasal septum unless they have had a previous septoplasty. If a patient has had a septoplasty then the next logical place to obtain cartilage if needed would be from the ears. In my opinion I reserve the use of rib cartilage for major reconstructive rhinoplasty. Dr. ES
Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Percentage of rhinoplasties needing cartilage grafts

Of the total rhinoplasties done I would venture a guess of less than 10% need ear cartilage or any cartilage grafting. I always save septal cartilage in case I need a graft. From MIAMI Dr. B
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rib or Ear Cartilage Grafts in Rhinoplasty

Hi Agg, The percentage of patients who require rib or ear cartilage grafting in rhinoplasty is very small. The percentage increases proportionately as the number of rhinoplasties increase. Good luck and be well. Dr. P
Michael A. Persky, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Percentage of Noses requiring Cartilage Graft Placement

The percentage of noses requiring placement of cartilage grafts would depend on what ethic groups make up most of the Plastic surgeon's patients and if his/her practice specializes in re-do or revision rhinoplasties. The vast majority of Reduction Rhinoplasties, in which a hump is taken down and the nose is narrowed, do not require grafts. On the other hand, African American, Mexican (Mestizo) and Asian noses who have a low dorsum require grafts to elevate it. So do noses that require... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ear and rib cartilage grafts usually are less than 10% of primary rhinoplasties

Ear and rib cartilage grafts usually are less than 10% of primary rhinoplasties.  Usually there is enought cartilage from the nasal septum to use for rhinoplasties.  This also depends on what kind of practice the surgeon has.  If they have a good reputation and alot of experience, Secondary rhinoplasties or rhinoplasties that are the second time around are more common.  In this situation cartilage grafts from the ear and rib are more common and it varies for all surgeons... more
Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty Cartilage Grafts Depend on Ease of Harvesting and Total Amount Needed

The old axiom of "do the least to accomplish the most" applies to Rhinoplasty. The easiest source, and one of the most dependable materials for cartilage grafting in Rhinoplasty is the nasal septum. However, in circumstances of revision Rhinoplasty or in complicated circumstances such as lengthening a short nose, septal cartilage may already have been used and/or may be insufficient to accomplish the task at hand. In such cases, a surgeon may opt to use ear and/or rib cartilage... more
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drprendiville.com

+1

Cartilage Grafts for Rhinoplasties

Most primary rhinoplasties do not require cartilage grafts from the ear or ribs. If any cartilage is needed, it can be harvested from inside the nose from the nasal septum. If you are having a secondary rhinoplasty, you may need cartilage harvested from the ear or rib, with this is usually not necessary either unless you are having major reconstruction. Good luck.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Souce for cartilage grafts in rhinoplasty depend on both need and surgeon's choice

Each individual surgeon has a continuum of choices for cartilage graft sources depending on how much cartilage is necessary, what is available and what works best in their hands. Personally, my first choice is nasal septum, then ear cartilage and rib cartilage last. Sometimes the septal cartilage has been used or altered by prior Septoplasty. Also, ear cartilage is softer and not useful for all kinds of grafts. If a lot of cartilage is needed, rib may be the first choice. So, if you are... more
Steven J. Pearlman, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Grafting material for a primary Rhinoplasty is typically harvested from the nasal septum.

I will almost routinely harvest a septal cartilage graft for use during Rhinoplasty Surgery. This is commonly used for a columella-strut which adds structure and support to the nasal tip. Tip grafts are also commonly fashioned from septal cartilage. Rib cartilage or ear cartilage is typically used only during procedures when there is no available septal cartilage. I hope this is helpful for you.
Eric M. Joseph, MD

West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.ericmjoseph.com

Ask a question