How much ear cartilage will absorb when used for Asian rhinoplasty?

Question

This is my nose 2 weeks after Asian rhinoplasty. My bridge is still very straight btw the eyes. I'm hoping it will curve in more as time progresses (ear cartilage was used). I don't have a clear understanding of cartilage absorption, but will my nose have a more dramatic curve as over time? What will my nose look like if it does absorbed? I'm considering having the bridge btw my eyes shaved down with a needle if it doesn't curve over time. What is the complication if I do have it shave down?

Donald B. Yoo, MD, FACS · Answer

At 2 weeks, you are very early in your recovery and there is still quite a bit of swelling that will resolve along your bridge, and especially between your eyes.  The ear cartilage itself will not resorb, but the final height of your radix will be lower when fully healed.

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

For two weeks after surgery, your bridge looks pretty good. The tip projects higher than the bridge which is aesthetically pleasing. However, it is probable that the nasal bridge will still decrease in height as more swelling goes down over the next two months. You should wait at least this long before evaluating your bridge and be sure to discuss your feelings with your surgeon.

Jamil Ahmad, MD · Answer

At 2 weeks following rhinoplasty, you are very early in your recovery and there is still a lot of swelling present. Recovery after rhinoplasty will vary based on the person, characteristics of the nasal tissues and what was done during surgery. It can take somewhere in and around 12-18 months to see the final results. If you have thick skin, swelling will take much longer to settle. The areas with thicker skin in the nose such as the tip, alar rims and radix will require longer to settle. Also there appears to be a linear decrease in swelling for the first several months followed by a period where the swelling fluctuates (sometimes little or no swelling and other times more swelling) before the nose settles. It is important to be patient during your recovery - it will take a while to see the final results. When your own cartilage is used to during rhinoplasty, it is very rare for any of it to be resorbed over time. During your recovery, many of the changes you will see in the dorsal height (ie., fullness of the bridge) -becoming smaller and less prominent- is more related to resolution of swelling in the skin and soft tissues. This will continue to change for about 1 year postoperatively resulting in more of a 'curved' bridge.

Charles S. Lee, MD, FACS · Answer

You'll have some expected swelling which resolves over time but the cartilage itself does not resorb. Based on the limited photo as well as your 2 week timeframe from surgery, I would anticipate a pretty nice outcome.

Scott Shadfar, MD · Answer

Hello Nwynie, Thank you for your question.Without examining you, physically feeling the tissue, assessing your desired outcome, taking a full medical history, and discussing the pros and cons of any treatments it is difficult to be comprehensive.The nose continues to change shape and mold to the underlying structure over the next several months.  You key is to be patient and allow your tissues to heal before proceeding forward with any other surgeries.  You may find as things heal you are actually pleased with the results as the nose changes. Good luck, Dr. Shadfar

How much ear cartilage will absorb when used for Asian rhinoplasty?

Answers (6)

Answer: Ear cartilage resorbs very little

Answer: Ear cartilage resorbs very little

Answer: Asian Rhinoplasty

Answer: Asian Rhinoplasty

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Everything you need to know about Asian Rhinoplasty

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How much ear cartilage will absorb when used for Asian rhinoplasty?

Answers (6)

Answer: Ear cartilage resorbs very little

Answer: Ear cartilage resorbs very little

Answer: Asian Rhinoplasty

Answer: Asian Rhinoplasty

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Asian Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.