Does harvesting cartilage from the septum weaken or destabilize the nose?

   A strong strut is always left behind that is adequate to support the nose.Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds
of rhinoplasties and rhinoplasty revisions each year. Then look at the
plastic surgeon's website before and after photo galleries to get a
sense of who can deliver the results. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

  When harvesting cartilage for grafting purposes or to improve breathing a 1 cm strut of cartilage is left underneath the bridge and the caudal septum or tip of the nose for structural integrity.

Septoplasty is commonly performed in conjunction with rhinoplasty, as is septal cartilage graft harvest.  If done properly, there should be no impact on structural support.  Many surgeons are actually using the grafts to reinforce support in addition to grafting for cosmetic purposes.  As always, the key is surgeon experience and I would recommend a rhinoplasty surgeon well-versed in functional rhinoplasty as they are keenly aware of the issues concerning you.