Rhinoplasty Woes - Cartilage or Silicone, Open or Closed Rhinoplasty?

asked 1 year ago by sake
Latest answer by Ryan Greene, MD, PhD
Question viewed 455 times
Tags: silicone implant, cartilage, closed, comparison, open

I'm having rhinoplasty next week, i was adamant of having rib cartilage and doing closed rhinoplasty surgery. Because I'm an Asian, the doctor insists that i should use silicone and do an open rhinoplasty for better results. I heard tonnes of bad stories about silicone implants as such silicone won't be able to last for a lifetime and needs constant rectification. What should i do ? Listen to the doc's advice or be persistence on cartilage and do a closed rhinoplasty ?

9 answers to Rhinoplasty Woes - Cartilage or Silicone, Open or Closed Rhinoplasty?

Cartilage or silicone implants in Asian patients.

Both have pluses and minuses. Silicone can get infected more easily, but thousands are used in Asia each month. Though it is faster and easier to place. i have for 35 years used cartilage from the patients ear or septum along with fascia. I like this better than rib since it is less painful and easier to obtain. I have not had any infection in thousands of noses, but you can have minor irregularities that require a minor "touch-up".

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.bevhills.com

Cartilage vs. Silicone for rhinoplasty

I do not use foreign material such as silicone in the nose, as I have witnessed many complications. For an Asian nose with a need for dorsal augmentation, I much prefer the use of rib cartilage. I also much prefer the external approach (some call this the 'open' approach) in these situations. It is far too simplistic to consider just doing an endonasal ('closed') approach and placing a graft on the bridge. These noses often require far more support, which is much more... more

Ryan Greene, MD, PhD
Fort Lauderdale Facial Plastic Surgeon

Silicone or Rib Cartilage - Open vs Closed.

Hi, Surgeons will usually recommend techniques and implants that they feel comfortable using. More importantly, do you like the work the surgeon has shown you, did you speak to any of his/her patients. If you like his/her work and are comfortable that you will get the results you want then go with the advice of the surgeon. Personally, I like to use custom carved silicone implants with an open rhinoplasty technique. If a custom carved silicone implant is used as apposed to the... more

Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD
New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facechange.org

Rhinoplasty - cartilage vs silicone, open vs closed

First of all, you should always feel 100% before proceeding with surgery so if you have any doubts or a different plan from your surgeon, you shouldn't rush into surgery. Every surgeon used different techniques that work for them or that they have the most experience with. Just make sure your surgeon has the proper training and board certification for your procedure. In general, I prefer cartilage since I feel the body accepts your own tissues than anything... more

Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Rhinoplasty Woes - Cartilage or Silicone, Open or Closed Rhinoplasty?

RUN and get other opinions RUN!!!!! You are confused and should not do surgery until you are satisfied with the operative plan. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski, 305 598 0091

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Open Rhinoplasty with cartilage grafts is safer in the long run.

The good news about your own or irradiated cartilage is that your body will grow into if and it will become permanent while silicone implants can become infected and extrude years later. There for I would recommend you find a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with a good amount of experience with these techniques before deciding to have a silastic implant placed in your nose.

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

Please listen to your doctor

Your surgeon has more experience than you. Your request for the rib cartilage is based on the information that may not be relevant to you. If you are going to trust your surgeon to operate on you,you need to trust him or her fully and do not micromanage your care. Silicone implants are good option . Rib cartilage is usually used for reconstruction and complex cases where there is a lot of scarring.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

How to reconcile differences in opinion with your surgeon

Most surgeons will recommend and sometimes insist on what they feel is best for you based upon their personal professional experience. Obviously training and previous outcomes will play a role in how they form that opinion. So, in that context, there is often no correct opinion. What is more important is to avoid trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Silicone, rib, ear cartilage, and perhaps irradiated rib all have their place in nasal surgery. Each... more