Q: Would it be possible for cartilage to grow back? How does an ear look after the harvest?
A: When properly performed, ear cartilage harvest results in little to no change in appearance to the ear. The incision can be hidden in a crease behind the ear, and cartilage only from the center – which does not alter size, shape or appearance – is harvested.
This video is a little graphic, but shows the procedure in detail.
Q: I am an Asian who had a tip rhinoplasty 3 months ago and strongly dislike the stiffness brought by the caudal septal extension grafts. However, the changes are not noticeable. I have discussed with my surgeon about a revision rhinoplasty to remove it. He told me it is possible to take it out and return to the previous nose. Perhaps he would leave some cartilage as columellar strut to support the tip. Would columellar strut grafts be good instead of caudal septal extension grafts? Is it really risky?
A: I wouldn’t advise touching your nose this early after surgery. It’s normal for the nose to feel stiff and almost artificially fake after having a septal extension graft placed. This will soften over the course of the year as your nose heals. Unlike other grafts (such as rim grafts) that are not sutured to other structures and can be easily removed, a septal extension graft is secured to your tip cartilages so your tip will need to be put back together once removed.
Q: I’m a 25-year-old Asian female. I had rhinoplasty 5 years ago; unfortunately a piece of cartilage seems to have shifted down to the tip of my nose. It feels so strange and sharp that it’s very distressing. I’m considering minor closed rhinoplasty with only that piece of cartilage removed. My concern is how much swelling and how long it’ll last. I can’t afford to hide away for months; my nose is already not small and when it’s swollen it looks awful.
A: Obtaining your previous operative note and consulting with a rhinoplasty specialist would be helpful in determining if your diagnosis is indeed correct. If it is in fact a piece of cartilage or cartilage graft that has shifted over time, then a removing it through a closed approach would not result in a significant amount of downtime.
Sometimes sharp contour irregularities can result from twisted or deviated cartilage, and if that is the case you may require a more extensive revision to achieve a nice result.
Q: I would like to know what types of implant that can last a lifetime as I do not wish to go for a rhinoplasty revision later on. What type of implant would give me the best harmony on my face and enhance my feature without looking fake?
A: There are many options when choosing Asian rhinoplasty, but the safest, most permanent and predictable way to achieve excellent results is with tissue from your own body (autologous grafts). They have a much lower risk of infection, extrusion, or migration than synthetic implants because they become fully incorporated into your nose unlike synthetic implants, which remain as a foreign body in
This patient had an open revision rhinoplasty with Dr. Donald Yoo exactly 1 month ago. Dr. Yoo used her own tissue to correct and enhance her nose. It looks like her recovery is going pretty smoothly so far!
The swelling is 70% resolved after the first three months, and the remainder goes down over time. The final result will be evident 18-24 months following surgery.
Revision Rhinoplasty Frontal View
Primary Rhinoplasty Left 3qt View – 1 month post op
Primary Rhinoplasty Left Profile View
Revision Rhinoplasty Base View – 1 month post op
Revision Rhinoplasty Right 3qt View
Revision Rhinoplasty Right Profile View
Q: I had a rhinoplasty 15 days ago. When the gyps was removed the root of nose was too high like it started from my forehead and looks horrible. Doctor had stitches there also that he removed (I don’t know why stitches were there). When I touch there I feel mostly bone with small breaks. Is this temporary swelling or a bad job?
A: 2 weeks after rhinoplasty your entire nose will still be swollen, including the bridge of your nose. It is too early to judge what the final appearance of your bridge will be. When dorsal augmentation is performed sometimes sutures are placed percutaneously (through the skin) to hold the dorsal graft in place.
You will have a better idea of the true height of your bridge in 3-6 months, though full healing may take up to 1-2 years.
Q: Would septal cartilage be enough for bridge augmentation and tip projection?
A: Septal cartilage alone is not enough to create dorsal augmentation and tip projection. Tip projection in Asian rhinoplasty often requires several grafts: extended columellar strut, lateral crural struts, and tip grafts. Once those are fashioned from septal cartilage, there is typically very little remaining cartilage.
Q: Can I-shape silicone implants extrude? I am considering Asian rhinoplasty with I-shape implant + cartilage for tip. In fact, is it possible for cartilage to extrude? Furthermore, do issues with L-shape such as contraction and depression also apply to I-shape, considering that it would not exert pressure on the tip like L-shape would?
A: While L-shape implants have a greater risk of extrusion through the skin in the tip of the nose, I-shape implants still carry a higher risk of extrusion through the skin in the bridge of the nose than autologous grafts (your own cartilage). Cartilage has an infinitely lower chance of extrusion than synthetic grafts (practically none under normal conditions), and a much lower risk of infection or migration.
Overall, autologous grafts are a much more permanent and safer option for reshaping the nose during Asian rhinoplasty.
Q: I have an upturned pig like nose. Can Asian rhinoplasty surgery help rotate my nose downwards and make it more pointy? I hate how my nostrils easily show when I take pcitures. I also like the look of the tip of the nose going downwards, and in front view the nose looks like a “V” shape. Is this possible?
A: During Asian rhinoplasty, the tip of the nose can be counter-rotated and thus made to look longer and less “pig” like. The V-shape you like can be re-created by extending the columella (area between the nostrils) downward, and adding volume to your infratip (area below the tip of your nose). Paramount to a successful result is finding a surgeon with the skill and experience to achieve those changes, while sharing your aesthetic vision.
Q: What can I realistically expect my nose to become with rhinoplasty? I would love for it to be sculpted into something much more attractive. Realistically, I would like my nose to look a little longer with a more narrow nasal bridge as well as showing a bit more nostril. I’m tired of flaring my nostrils in pictures to give it shape to make it look more pleasing. Help!
A: Dramatic results can be achieved with Asian rhinoplasty, especially when rib cartilage is used by an experienced rhinoplasty specialist. The bridge and tip of the nose can be made much taller (6-7 mm) in a very predictable fashion. The flare and width of the nostrils may be reduced with alar base modification.
It’s important to keep in mind that although significant results can be achieved using synthetic grafts such as silicone, using autologous grafts (tissue from your own body) will yield the safest and most permanent results.
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