Fascia and Ear Cartilage for Dorsal Augmentation

You will have a significant amount of swelling at 10 days out from your rhinoplasty. My opinion is that these grafts cause even more swelling than a regular rhinoplasty. Be patient, this will look much better over the next few weeks. Remember, we don't do a rhinoplasty so you look good at 10 days, we do a rhinoplasty so you look good for the rest of your life.

Andrew C. Campbell, M.D.

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon

 The radix can swell a fair amount after grafting and 10 days is still very early in the post-operative course.

Ten days after surgery is still very early in the post-operative period and swelling is to be expected at this stage. Generally, when fascia is used the swelling actually lasts longer than usual. But over the next few weeks the swelling should slowly subside. As long as there is no redness or extreme pain in this localized area, I would be patient at this point since it is very early to judge. 

At this early stage in the healing process I would expect there to be quite a bit of swelling to the radix graft area.

Knowing how much tissue was placed in the area, your surgeon would have the best idea of how much improvement to expect.

Hi ivone1985-

Crushed cartilage and fascia are good materials for augmentation of the radix. It may be possible that the graft moved up from its' original position, giving the appearance of fullness between the eyebrows.  As the swelling goes down your surgeon should be able to determine this. If the graft has moved then it will need to be repositioned.

Sincerely,

Tom Kaniff

Temporalis fascia and cartilage are good options for radix grafting.  Based on the photos that you have shown, the radix appears to have been overaugmented; however, some of this is undoubtedly swelling and even possibly a collection of blood in the area.  I would wait for a few months, but you should discuss your concerns openly with your surgeon.  Steroid injections could be considered for this area during the few month waiting period.

Good luck!

Ten day after rhinoplasty is too early to evaluate any rhinoplasty result.  Fascia and cartilage from the ear are great materials for grafting in the nose.  I would give it at least several months before we can start analyzing the results of the surgery, and more than a year for evaluating the final result.

SInce you are only 10 days out from surgery, I would give it time to heal  and for the swelling to go down.

ivone:

Because you are 10 days after revision rhinoplasty, and because a pocket had to be developed for the graft, I would expect swelling to be present in that area. So my observations on the pictures you posted may not be true as the swelling goes down in the next several days weeks.

It appears that the graft is too high and too thick. At the top the graft is blunting the natural break between the nose and the forehead, and from below you still have an area that is depressed compared to the graft.

Again, swelling can make a lot of things appear differently. You should have major improvement in the next 4-6 wks if this is swelling. If no real changes occur it is more probable that it is the graft thickness and position that is accounting for your concerns.

Close follow up with your surgeon and perhaps a another opinion from a local and experienced facial plastic s surgeon will give you a more definite answer.

 

Best,

 

Michel Siegel, MD

The technique your surgeon used is an excellent way to build up the dorsum of the nose.  The area always swells fairly significantly and commonly looks over done.  At 10 days, you are still in the time frame of maximum swelling.  As with all rhinoplasties, patience is essential.  Have faith and see your surgeon with your concerns.