Can cartilage absorb if placed anywhere on the nose?

Question

I see different answers from each doctor. Can ear,septum, and rib cartilage absorb if placed anywhere on the nose? For example, if i add 3mm to my tip, will all of it or some of it shrink years from now? Is there any vitamin a person can take to prevent that?

Myriam Loyo, MD · Answer

Cartilage grafting is used in rhinoplasty to create a structure framework to the nose and to shape and contour the nose. Cartilage grafts can come from different locations, like the septum, ear or rib cartilage. On occasion, cartilage grafts can reabsorb. It is rare for this to happen and it tends to happen more in very complicated cases like reconstructive cases that require a lot of grafting or if an infection develops (very rare in rhinoplasty). As surgeons we want to avoid having any of the cartilage reabsorb and we want to be able to predict to the best of our ability every millimeter that we change in the nose. We look at the cartilage itself to look at the quality of the cartilage (how strong, how stiff, and how ossified it is) and we plan where we place it (how we secure it and in which part of the nose). With experience we can deliver consist results and get very good at predicting the final result. But healing can be unpredictable and soft tissue contracture and aging is different in every person. I am not aware of any vitamins that will help with this. But certainly avoiding smoking and living a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet will help your healing and aging (even at a cellular level!).Hope this is helpful

Paul N. Afrooz, MD · Answer

There are several ways to add projection to your tip. Some methods have a slightly higher chance of resorption than others, so there really is no black and white answer.  It will ultimately depend on your case, and how the surgeon chooses to increase your tip projection.  If done properly and without complications, it should not "shrink." There is really no vitamin that you can take for this.

Can cartilage absorb if placed anywhere on the nose?

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Can cartilage absorb if placed anywhere on the nose?

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

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