Will Ear Cartilage Regrow in Ear After It is Used in Rhinoplasty?

Question

I heard from some doctors said that ear cartilage will regrow in the original place of where it was taken out. Is this true? If this is the case, then can we use regrown cartilage in our secondary Rhinoplasty if the original one has been used up in the primary surgery?

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

The cartilage that was removed won't regrow. You can use the other ear as well as the septum. For very large defects we use rib, but that is only if there is no other supply.

C. Spencer Cochran, MD · Answer

Ear cartilage -- or any other type of cartialge -- does not regrow in its original site once it has been removed.
In most rhinoplasty surgeries, the surgeon uses cartilage from the septum to straighten, strengthen, or reshape the nasal framework.  If the cartilage from the septum is removed or damaged during a septoplasty, there may not be adequate quantities available for the rhinoplasty.  If there is not sufficient cartilage in your nose for a rhinoplasty, grafts must obtained from another site - either the ear or the rib.

Theda C. Kontis, MD · Answer

As you have read by the other physician comments, cartilage does not regrow after it has been harvested from the ear. The bowl of the ear is usually where we harvest cartilage, and there is generally no ear deformity results after harvest. We can obtain a great deal of cartilage from the bowls of both ears. Therefore, I would be very surprised if there was no available cartilage in your ears to use for secondary rhinoplasty. However, if your surgeon feels there is no cartilage available from your septum or ears, you may need to have cartilage harvested from your rib.

Sam Jejurikar, MD · Answer

Ear cartilage does not grow back once harvested. Cartilage is generally taken from the bowl of the ear, so that it does not result in a significant aesthetic deformity. If a secondary procedure is required, the other ear, the nasal septum, and ribs are the only other options for cartilage grafts.

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Ear cartilage grafts are usually taken from the concha (bowl) of the ear which does not  usually lead to any significant change in the appearance of your ear. Once it's removed, it does not grow back.

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Once cartilage has been removed from the ear it will not re-grow. This will not have any bearing on primary or revision rhinoplasty surgery. Ear cartilage when taken and used for reconstructive rhinoplasty in the nose does tend to be more firm and hard in the nose than nasal cartilage.

Scott E. Kasden, MD, FACS · Answer

I agree, if the perichondrium is left, the cartilage may regrow.  It is not common for that to happen however, from my experience.  On the other hand, there is not a significant deformity of the ear.

W. Tracy Hankins, MD · Answer

The ear cartilage that is removed will not regrow, but the reason we use it from this area is that it is well camoflauged in this area.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Ear cartilage and nasal cartilage grow over a lifetime, that is why the nose and ears sometimes look larger as we age. However, once the cartilage is harvested for graft material, the ear will not regrow cartilage to replace the harvested piece.

G. Gregory Gallico III, MD · Answer

Ear cartilage won't regrow, but if it has been taken out properly, it won't make a difference to the ear. However, if another rhinoplasty needs a cartilage graft, it will haveto come from a new site.

Will Ear Cartilage Regrow in Ear After It is Used in Rhinoplasty?

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Answers (14)

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