Can someone tell me if 8mm is a normal thickness for a strut? (Photos)

Question

Extremely Thick Strut? Hello so I had my rhinoplasty around six months ago. It was a tip plastic with rib strut graft. The problem is that my doctor has made my strut way too thick and I am having extreme difficulties breathing. I have measured it with my fingers and can confirm it to be 8 millimeters thick. Can someone tell me if that’s a normal thickness for a strut??? I’ve seen online and it says that the thickness is usually 2-4 millimeters. Will trimming it that much have any risk of it breaking??

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question. Measuring with your fingers is definitely not an accurate way to measure this. I recommend that you meet with your surgeon who can evaluate you in person and ask them for the dimensions of the graft. Your surgeon could also likely do steroid injections at the same time to help with the swelling.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Sean Fisher, MD · Answer

8mm would be quite thick for any single cartilage graft. Breathing troubles after rhinoplasty are complex and can be due to a variety of factors. Final results take a full year after primary rhinoplasty and swelling may continue to decrease which could affect results and your ability to breath. If your breathing troubles persist, it may be best to consider a revision rhinoplasty as there may be multiple factors leading to your breathing troubles.

Can someone tell me if 8mm is a normal thickness for a strut? (Photos)

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