78%

877 reviews

Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings

Rhinoplasty Cost ≈ $6,300 average cost

Write a review | Ask a Question

Pros and Cons of Gore-tex and Sillicone in Rhinoplasty?

I am trying to figure out which is between Gore-tex or Silicone is better for Rhinoplasty. I heard that Gore-tex can shrink 40% in size over time and silicone has a chance of popping out (seen pictures) and make the nose very pointy looking. I'm Asian and seeking a little height as well as smaller base. What do you advise?

Asked 31 months ago by jk363 in toronto

No --better to use your own tissue.

No reason to use foreign material when you can use your own tissue. Both of these products can cause serious problems, so why take the chance.

Doctor's Website

Toby Mayer, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Improving the shape of your nose

Silicone and Gore-Tex can both pop-out after a rhinoplasty. Did you consider using your own cartilage or bone? These materials are from you own body and the chance that you'll have problems is less. The cartilage can be taken from the middle part of your nose or septum, your ears, and even part of your rib. All of these areas heal well, so talk to your plastic surgeon about these options. Good luck!

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Gore-Tex vs. silicone vs. autograft nasal implants

There is no question that the patient's own tissue is the safest, but even it can absorb. The main problem is the morbidity of the donor site. Silicone has about a 10% incidence of extrusion, sometimes even without minor trauma. I like Gore-Tex. I have had one extrusion and that came about because of trauma to a pre-exixting divot or scar in the patient's nose. When I have gone back in to place a larger implant, as I did once, I found the Gore-Tex implant solidly in place and infiltrated... more

James H. Fuller, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Augmentation of the Nose with Gore-tex and Sillicone in Rhinoplasty

Hi Jk363, The problem with all man made implants placed in the nose is that eventually the vast majority of such implants will have to come out because they poke through the skin (ie extrude), thin the overlying skin, become deformed by scar OR become warped and render the appearance artificial or worse. Some implants are better tolerated under the nasal skin than other man made implants. Some implants are better tolerated under thicker nasal skins of some ethnic groups than under European... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Gortex implant not advised.

A small silicone implant is well-tolerated in the Asian nose as long as you do not attempt to overdo the implant. It is just not advisable to have Gortex in the nose; they can become infected and there have been multiple disasters associated with that implant in the nose.

Doctor's Website

William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Gore-Tex and Silicone

You do not mention an excellent third choice - your own tissue. Silicone and similar materials are very popular in Asian augmentation rhinoplasty, but there are problems such as movement or extrusion. This can be avoided by using your on cartilage.

Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Use your own tissues whenever possible

I would generally advise that you use your own ear, rib, or septal cartilage. Any foreign material suchs as gortex or silicone has the possibility of extruding the implants through the skin.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Both nasal implants have been used with success

Goretex implants for nasal augmentation / rhinoplasty are usually made out of sheets and are formed by the surgeon to fit the nasal characteristics of the patient. Goretex is made up of fibrillated polymer of polytetrafluoroethylene with pore sizes in the range of 22um which allow limited tissue in growth. It has been determined that pore sizes between 1 and 50 um (micrometers) will allow bacteria to get into the pores but not tissue ingrowth to fight off the bacteria. Hence pore sizes... more

Philip Young, MD

Bellevue Facial Plastic Surgeon

Silicone and Goretex in Rhinoplasty

Synthetic implants used for rhinoplasty always add some risk to the procedure. Over time the chance of infection or wearing through the skin is high. A better long term bet is to use a patient's own cartilage to augment the bridge or shape the tip. The infection and extrusion rate is then close to zero. I have removed many nasal implants of all types. There always seems to be a new and popular implant coming up, but a few years later the story is the same for all of them. Nothing works... more

Ira D. Papel, MD

Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

Goretex vs Silicone in Asian Nose

I have seen Silicone extrusion more frequently than goretex. The shrinkage of goretex is not a big issue. Its unlikely that it will shrink by 40%. It will give you the height you need and for small base you might need wedge excisions of the alar areas. Regards

Tanveer Janjua, MD

Bedminster Facial Plastic Surgeon

Synthetic materials for augmentation rhinoplasty

I prefer autogenous material for rhinoplasty. The benefits of any of the synthetics are that it is easy for the surgeon, the operative time is less, and there is no donor site morbidity. The down side is fairly significant - these synthetic materials can get infected and need to be removed, and they can extrude. It is more work for the surgeon to use autogenous materials and costs more to the patient, but in the long term you will have less problems. Septal cartilage is first choice (no... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

The Use of Non-Autologous Tissue in Rhinoplasty

In general, it is highly unadvisable to use non-autologous material like Gore-Tex or silicone implants in rhinoplasty as the long term effects for infection and exposure are not insignificant. However, in some ethnic populations such as in Asia it is very popular to use a silicone implant. When it is placed deep in the subcutaneous tissue away from the tip, it can last a long time. However, I do not do this procedure. I would prefer to do a nasal dorsal augmentation with the patient’s... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Nasal implants

Whether one uses gortex or silicone, there is a risk of using synthetic implants for dorsal nasal augmentation. Autologous tissue like your own rib cartilage or nasal cartilage are better options for dorsal augmentation.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Pros and cons to everything

Jk, As you have eloquently expressed, there are pros and cons to every that is placed into the nose. Silicone can extrude (expose). Gortex can contract. Natural materials can dissolve. And yet, there are many satisfied rhinoplasty patients out there with all of these materials in place. The risks of using any of the materials are small and that is the reason why. I know a colleague that only uses silicone in Asian noses. So, you have to pick your poison, but at least know that the... more

Kenneth R. Francis, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Neither!

Hi! Most experts in augmentation rhinoplasty do not use any synthetic material because of higher complications. In New York, we use your own diced cartilage wrapped in temporal fascia. You need a graft that will last a lifetime.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Gore-Tex (ePTFE) implants work well for implantation on the nasal bridge

Today, Gore-Tex does not supply grafting material for the nose. I have used Surgiform (also ePTFE), with good success, but it is stiffer to work with. I only use ePTFE to augment the bridge, and I think it works well with a complication rate of less than 5%. Silicone elastomers (rubberized silicone implants) have a higher likelihood of eventual extrusion. I wouldn't use either implant in the nasal tip. You should discuss your options with a board-certified, experienced Rhinoplasty surgeon... more

Doctor's Website

Eric M. Joseph, MD

West Orange Facial Plastic Surgeon

Silicon or goretex in nose? be cautious

I only use natural materials - the patients own cartilage. There are certainly patients out there with silicon or other materials placed in a rhinoplasty that are happy with their outcomes (such as building up the bridge). However, I believe that the risks are higher than using "autologous" materials, that is, your own natural tissue. These risks include infection. My recommendation in all cases is to use natural autologous material.

Patrick Byrne, MD

Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

I don't like either

I don't use either. I like your own tissue - either septal cartilage or ear cartilage. I have used silicone, and have often had to remove it. Gortex is also not ideal. If you have an infection - it is almost impossible to remove. There is also rib cartilage if you need more than what is in your ear or nose. Stay away from alloplastic materials.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Prosthetic materials vs your own tissues

If you are entertaining having prosthetic materials placed in your nose, I will assume that you are trying to build up an area like the bridge. This is commonly done in Asian patients who often lack enoiugh of a bridge from the side view. These materials can work well but can also get into troubles like infection and exposure which require their removal. Surgeons experienced in rhinoplasty can also augment areas of the nose using your own tissues such as cartilage from the nasal septum,... more