Rib Cartilage: The ideal nasal implant substance?

Researchers at the University of Texas recently evaluated the use of rib cartilage grafts during rhinoplasty and found that the technique was “well-tolerated” and “yields superb results.”

During rhinoplasty, cartilage can be taken from the septum or the ear, but sometimes that’s not an option.  In such cases, rib cartilage from a donor can be used.

What surgeons want is a graft material that meets conditions like these, as outlined by the authors of the study:

• Readily available in large quantities
• Resists infection
• Resists absorption
• Completely integrated into host tissues
• Causes little patient morbidity

Based on their research, rib cartilage taken from human donors appears to be a viable option for rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty.  When researchers viewed long-term (24 year span) results of patients who used these grafts, they documented low complication and high satisfaction rates.

Read more in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery