Rhinoplasty with Gore-tex and Ear Cartilage

Question

My question focused on the material I plan to use for my nose Rhinoplasty. If I were to use ear cartilage for my tip and gore-tex for my nose bridge, what are the risk (for ex. 3% of revision) I would like to hear your personal stories of using Gore-tex.

	So far, it seems like I should avoid gore-tex but there are success stories. I'm trying to make peace with the risk of placing Gore-tex in my body unless it's going to cause me cancer or destroy my nose forever.

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD · Answer

Gore-tex is a perfectly reasonable option for dorsal augmentation...provided it is not be asked to do too much. Provided your nasal tissues are healthy, the material should do fairly well over time provided that the overlying nasal skin is not stretched too much or under excessive tension. While I always prefer your own tissues for any augmentation or support in the nose, that is not always possible for every patient. Gore-tex is a soft material and does not have any sharp edges which helps make it well tolerated in the nose with good surgical technique and placement.

Edmund Fisher, MD · Answer

Goretex is useful in rhinoplasty to smooth areas of cartilage and bone that have been sculpted in thin skinned individuals to prevent palpable and visible irregularities. In mine and other rhinoplasty surgeons' experience, using goretex in the lower third of the nose (the tip) is sometimes complicated by infection and extrusion. Complications may take months to years to develop. For this reason, I rarely use Goretex for rhinoplasty now and recommend using cartilage from the patient's septum, ear or rib instead.

Erel Laufer, MD · Answer

No horror stories about gortex but I prefer autologous tissues and preferrably cartilage  graft for nasl reshaping.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD (retired) · Answer

Conchal ear cartilage is my material of choice for nasal tips, Gortex used anywhere in the nose, not ever.  I wrote a scientific paper back in the mid to late 90's reporting cases of Gortex becoming infected, 5-7 years after it was used to shape the nasal tip and bridge.  I've never used it since and instead prefer silastic dorsal implants when the bridge needs to be raised or re-built.

Richard W. Fleming, MD (retired) · Answer

Gortex will not cause cancer  or destroy your nose. Having said that, I prefer to use the patient's own tissue whenever possible.

Rhinoplasty with Gore-tex and Ear Cartilage

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Answer: Gortex and ear cartilage grafts in Rhinoplasty

Answer: Gortex and ear cartilage grafts in Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty with Gortex and Ear Cartilage

Answer: Rhinoplasty with Gortex and Ear Cartilage

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Rhinoplasty with Gore-tex and Ear Cartilage

Answers (6)

Answer: Gortex and ear cartilage grafts in Rhinoplasty

Answer: Gortex and ear cartilage grafts in Rhinoplasty

Answer: Rhinoplasty with Gortex and Ear Cartilage

Answer: Rhinoplasty with Gortex and Ear Cartilage

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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