Grafts in secondary rhinoplasty in Yerevan, Armenia

I have been using state of the art techniques to recreate and rebuild the structural framework of the nose since I began practice. One of the methods that I sometimes employ in revision rhinoplasty is the use of grafts. Grafts are structural components made of live tissue, ordinarily cartilage.

One of the most frequent statements that I hear is "I read that grafts show through the skin." This can occur when they were made and placed in the incorrect way or they were used in a patient that should not have had the graft placed. When grafts are properly and wisely used, they should not be conspicuous through the skin.

The cartilage can be obtained, or harvested, from the septum, which is inside the nose. The septum is a "wall" betwixt both nostrils. In some cases the septum can be deviated. In these cases, a septoplasty may be fulfilled to straighten the septum. In the absence of septal cartilage, it may be harvested from the ear. This is done through an incision behind the ear. The ear does not change in form after the cartilage is taken. Ear cartilage can then be used to make the grafts. Ear cartilage is thick, shaped in a curvilinear form, and can crack easily. These feature make it less than ideal for grafting. It is a good replacement in the absence of septal cartilage.

Rib cartilage is another version. The rib is harvested through a small incision in the right chest. In women, this is done via an incision just under the right breast. The risk with harvesting rib, although rare, is damage to the lining of the lung.