How Does The Process Of Using Cartilage To Build Up a Bridge Work?

asked 10 months ago by dnt36 in Los Angeles, CA
Latest answer by Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Question viewed 206 times
Tags: cartilage

I recently had a revision surgery to build back my bridge, which was overly reduced in the primary. The surgeon used cadaver bone. Now that bone is quite visible and projects out. The two remedies to the problem are: A) go back to the surgeon and remove the bone graft, or B) see a surgeon to use another grafting material, such as rib cartilage. I don't know how the carilage graft would work. My concern would be that I end up in a situation where I have that noticeable graft on my bridge again

6 answers to How Does The Process Of Using Cartilage To Build Up a Bridge Work?

How do you build up the nasal bridge?

I vote, none of the above. IMHO, rib bone, rib cartilage, bone, irradiated cartilage/bone and conchal (ear cartilage) all have been shown to dissolve unevenly over years and as such, I do not use any of these materilas for building up the nasal bridge and haven't done so for over 20 years. Instead, I prefer to use the straight (not L-shaped) dorsal silicone nasal implant. It's reliable and won't ever dissolve. Photos would help in the evaluation but... more

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

drfrancispalmer.com

How cartilage is used to build up bridge

I typically use cartilage to rebuild the bridge in cases like yours. It sounds like you problem may be more of one of the shape and coverage of your bone graft. The bone may be able to be reshaped and/or covered with fascia. An alternative would be to remove the bone and replace it with cartilage. Depending on your specific requirements this could involve septal, ear or rib cartilage. Septal or ear cartilage may have to be layered to give the height requirements you need. Rib cartilage... more

Thomas A Lamperti, MD
Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drlamperti.com

Building up your bridge.

If you submitted photos I could be more helpful. Basically you'll need to put something in to build things back up. Today, there are a variety of materials available and even injectibles can be used. Cadaver grafts have the advantage of not needing to be taken from you, causing another donor site. There are additional choices, some of which are synthetic and have some advantages as well.

Scott E. Newman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Nose bridge requires rebuilding and reshaping

First off, any dead material (cadaver bone or rib) is not a reliable choice. There really is no reason in 2011 to choose something dead when there is living tissue (ie: rib, ear, and septal cartilage) available for use. The alternatives are diced cartilage grafts wrapped in fascia (material that covers the temple muscle) or surgicell, rib graft (diced or shaved down), ear cartilage (diced or shaped; preferably diced and molded), as well as silicone implants. Your surgeon should be... more

Ashkan Ghavami, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Cartilage to Build Up Nasal Bridge

For over 30 years I have used the patient's own cartilage taken from the septum, ear. or rib to augment the nasal bridge.Although I prefer cartilage, It sounds like your problem is not the material used, but the amount and contour of the cadaver bone. The graft can be reduced and/or covered with fascia.

Richard W. Fleming, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Build up the bridge

If the problem is that the augmentation is too high, then all you have to do is have your surgeon shave it down. This can happen with any graft or implant if you and the surgeon are not on the same page regarding how hig you want your bridge to be. If the problem is skin contracture showing the edges of the graft then again it might be helped by smoothing or fascia wrapping. Depending on how much height you want the diced catilage wrapped in fascia technique can give a smooth augmentation of... more

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.palmbeachface.com

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