Won’t edges of rib grafts show through the skin?

Hi Cassiedy,The rib cartilage used for the grafts are no more likely than any other type of cartilage to show through the skin. Your doctor will work to prevent the cartilage from showing.Good luck!

When rib grafts are used for revision rhinoplasty it is generally the rib cartilage that is harvested (rarely the bone). These cartilages are then shaped and carved as needed for grafting.  When done correctly, they are not visible through the nasal skin. Good luck!

Rib cartilage grafts are not any more likely to show through your skin than any other type of cartilage.  The amount by which cartilage is visible in your nose depends on the thickness of your skin.  In patients with median or thick skin, the grafts are not typically visible and have a natural appearance.  In patients with thin skin, I typically use a fascia graft to conceal the grafts.  Fascia is a layer of connective tissue that can be obtained from over the harvested rib or from over the temporalis muscle in the hair bearing region of the scalp.
Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD