Can alar rim grafts be removed?

It is very difficult to discuss issue like this without series of good photos and/or in person evaluation. Generally speaking, allar grafts (there are different options) are used to support and shape nostril rim. If they are removed, there should be no long lasting effect, except that previous condition will come back to a certain degree. Only on the basis of in person consultation a board certified plastic surgeon, expert in rhinoplasty, may properly answer your question. Good luck. 

I think you need to consult with a plastic surgeon to see if you are actually a candidate for the procedure. For most rhinoplasties it is very seldom used especially fir a first time procedure. And most plastic surgeons rarely do it. So it’s starting to sound like it’s unlikely that you would have the procedure recommended.

Hello and thank you for your question.  It would be helpful to view pictures of your nose.   Alar rim grafts are placed to help prevent alar rim collapse and alar retraction.  If you have elongated nostrils, then you may be a better candidate for a nasal tip deprojection.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon.  I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.


Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon
 

Alar rim grafts are used for very specific reasons, for example to correct the notching of the alar rim. They give more rigidity to the external nasal valves. They are not visible and if used for proper indications, do not produce a negative effect. Removing a cartilage graft can be done to correct a functional or aesthetic problem related to their use. Like any revision rhinoplasty, there are risks of further deformities, and it would be best to use cartilage grafts judiciously in order to avoid the need for their removal.

Hello and thank you for your question. Rhinoplasty is a surgery of millimeters, in which every aspect of the surgery has to be carefully planned and executed. As complex as every rhinoplasty operation is, revision rhinoplasty, for example to remove previous cartilage graft, carries an extra-level of complexity and cannot be approached casually. Therefore, it's in everyone's best interest to get it right the first time. Alar rim grafts are used to support a weak alar rim, where there is collapse or alar notching among other reasons. If you are considering rhinoplasty, my best advice is that you discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing rhinoplasty. I would ask to see before and after pictures of their real patients. It's important that you trust your surgeon's skills and ability to achieve the results you are looking for. In particular, pay attention to your surgeon's experience with rhinoplasty. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon