Q: My septum’s always been a little deviated & I worry it is a little deviated after a trauma. I noticed the most change after a 2nd revision. In primary, I had a rhinoplasty that elevated my tip/nostrils. I was hit very hard in the tip (no bones broken), but now, after a 2nd procedure that involved harvesting a single shield graft, the nasal tip was lowered. The right side was harvested for material. My left nostril now seems closed. I want to raise my tip again. What am I at risk of now?
A: During Asian rhinoplasty, the septum can serve as a good source of cartilage to create structural grafts to reshape the nose. It is important to preserve enough cartilage in the native septum to allow for normal strength and structural integrity.
If septal cartilage has been previously harvested, then many times it is a better option to obtain cartilage from a different donor site (ear cartilage vs. rib cartilage). The degree of change you are hoping to achieve will dictate the best cartilage source – and this is best determined after an in-person consultation with an Asian Rhinoplasty Specialist experienced with revision rhinoplasty.
