HELP!!! Can i use someone else's septal cartilage for Asian rhinoplasty revision? What are the risks and dangers?

Besides septal cartilage and ear cartilage, rib cartilage is another excellent source of cartilage from your own body.  Especially for Asian rhinoplasty, rib cartilage is superb due to its strength, straight shape, and the abundant amount that is available.  Not all surgeons are comfortable harvesting rib cartilage, and will therefore suggest other materials instead of it.  Find an Asian rhinoplasty specialist experienced in rib cartilage harvest.  In experienced hands, the rib cartilage harvest is performed through a minimal incision hidden under the breast crease, and besides leaving this small, linear scar, will not change the appearance of the chest or rib in any way.  

His suggestion does not seem to make sense, unless he is talking about using irradiated cadaveric septal cartilage.  If the silicone comes out, rib cartilage from your own body is likely the best material to use it its place.

it would seem that you are referring to acellular irradiated donor cartilage.  This has been used frequently particularly by a surgeon in Houston who is written papers about it (Russell Kridel, MD) and it is been shown to be quite safe and effective.  However, that being said there is always a very remote risk of viral components and other contaminants in this donor cartilage such as hepatitis viruses or even HIV.  This is extremely rare.If you have any cartilage left from your ears this may be a very nice alternative or rib cartilage.  We cannot tell you whether or not you would need another revision.  This does not seem like an unreasonable plan.by the way, if your silicone implant is in place and doesn't look bad then this shouldn't be in a great rush to remove it unless it was infected.Chase Lay, MDAsian facial plastic specialist

While using your own septal cartilage is best, there are other options.  These include:Ear cartilageRib cartilageCadaver cartilageSynthetic implantsEach option has inherent advantages and disadvantages.  If at all possible, your own cartilage should be used.  If a large volume of cartilage is required, as it seems is the case for you, then rib cartilage is preferred. While it seems like a bigger surgery, this is generally a straightforward and routine procedure.  Rib cartilage provides a large amount of straight, firm and reliable cartilage.Using cadaveric cartilage (from another human) is also an option.  The big knock against cadaveric cartilage is that we don't know exactly how long it will last.  As it is not living tissue, it will resorb to some degree.  It may be in 20 years when you'd notice a change or maybe not at all, however, that is a risk you take.  I hope this answers your question and that you have a great result!

Hi,He may have meant irradiated cartilage which is cadaver cartilage that has been radiated. This type of cartilage is safe to use in revision surgery. However, a well place silastic implant should not cause any issues in your lifetime. The trick is finding a surgeon that knows how to use silicone nasal implants. Think of all the breast implants that are placed every year.Best, Dr.S.