Can Cartilage Removed from my First Rhinoplasty Be Reused for my Secondary Rhinoplasty?

Here in California and in many other states, you have to store the cartilage in an authorized, licensed tissue bank if you want to reuse it. Just jarring it up and refrigerating the cartilage in the office raises my eyebrow. You have to keep in mind that some studies show using cartilage recycled even through a licensed tissue bank results in a less than optimal outcome because of the 'processing' done for preservation. I think you would be better off undergoing either auricular (ear) or costal (rib) cartilage grafting as part of the revisionary rhinoplasty procedure if there is a need for structural cartilage grafting to further reshape the nose.

Dear Eamr83

The use of cartilage for grafting in a revision surgery usually comes from your own septum (if anything was left), ear cartilage or your rib, depending on what is needed. 

 Using banked cartilage is not a common practice.

Best Wishes.

 

Unfortunately cartilage banked outside the body is not viable.  Cartilage can be banked under the scalp or within the nose.  Cartilage banked outside your body can't be used.

Sorry...

 

Unfortunately, banking cartilage is not something that is done as far as I know in NY.  If you need additional grafting, then the septum or ear cartilage or even rib cartilage is available.

As far as I know ll human tissue removed and stored before being grafted back into that patient must be kept in  an accredited tissue bank. That is why I will place extra cartilage under the skin behind the ear for future  grafting if necessary. I would not use the refrigerated cartilage, but nothing is lost because there are multiple sources of cartilage in our bodies.