About Auricular Cartilage Used in Nasal Tip Surgery [Jayjun Plastic Surgery Korea]

 About Auricular Cartilage Used in Nasal Tip Surgery

 [Jayjun Plastic Surgery Korea]

The nose, located at the center of the face, seems to have a significant impact on one's first impression. An upwardly pointed nose shape gives a sophisticated impression, but a low nasal bridge and a blunt nasal tip can result in a less refined image, leading to complexes.

Therefore, many people try to improve their blunt nasal tip or low nasal bridge by injecting fillers or using threads to tie them up. However, because it is difficult to maintain the results for a long time, an increasing number of people are improving their nasal complexes by naturally lifting the nasal tip or raising the nasal bridge through surgical methods.

In general, most cases of raising a low nasal bridge involve using silicone implants, while correcting the nasal tip often involves using autologous cartilage such as septal, auricular, or costal cartilage. Therefore, nasal tip surgeries using autologous cartilage like septal or auricular cartilage are gaining popularity, as forcing implants to shape the nose can lead to unsatisfactory results.

Septal cartilage is very firm among autologous cartilage tissues, making it suitable for correcting crooked noses or those with a protruding central nasal bridge. This is because, in cases where an implant is needed to support the curved inside of the nose, using firm cartilage like septal cartilage can help solve functional problems.

However, caution is required when using septal cartilage for the nasal tip, as it may lose its inherent strength when harvested or cause limited movement and skin pulling due to the force of the septal cartilage when grafted to the nasal tip.

Another drawback is that the amount of septal cartilage that can be harvested may be limited, making it difficult to predict how much cartilage can be used before surgery.

On the other hand, auricular cartilage used in #Rhinoplasty is typically harvested from the concave area next to the ear and is used to naturally lift the nasal bridge and tip.

The texture of auricular cartilage is similar to that of the nasal tip cartilage, making it a suitable material for lifting the nasal tip. Auricular cartilage is commonly used in cases of a bulbous nose, low and short nasal tip, or when the septal cartilage is curved and difficult to use or has already been used.

Auricular cartilage #Rhinoplasty is relatively soft, allowing for the collection of a large amount of cartilage, and it does not easily break under impact, which enables the creation of a well-defined nasal bridge.

In addition, since auricular cartilage is directly visible from the outside, it is possible to predict the amount of cartilage available during the preoperative harvesting process, making surgical planning easier. Depending on the case, auricular cartilage #Rhinoplasty can also be performed in combination with septal cartilage, which is garnering increased interest.

In the case of #AuricularCartilage, about 5-6mm of cartilage is typically needed to raise the nasal bridge, so silicone implants are commonly used for elevating the bridge while auricular cartilage is used to naturally lift the nasal tip.

When performing auricular cartilage rhinoplasty, it's important to consider the harmony of facial features, ensure the surgery is performed using only safe autologous cartilage, and thoroughly examine the shape of the lateral nasal cartilage, as indiscriminately raising the nasal tip can result in unnatural harmony between the eyes, mouth, and forehead, potentially making the nose appear artificial.

Since the shape of facial features varies from person to person, it's important to consult with experienced medical professionals who can closely examine the nasal and forehead lines, the distance between the eyebrows, and the angle of the lips, and provide a harmonious design tailored to each individual.

Moreover, if you desire a natural-looking nose through rhinoplasty, it's essential to develop a customized plan based on precise examinations that assess not only the external appearance but also the internal structure of the nose, and to systematically undergo postoperative care while diligently checking the progress at each stage.