Rib Graft Rhinoplasty Scar, Can Rib Cartilage Leave a Mark on the Chest?

Open rhinoplasty is a technique that lets the surgeon see the nasal structure in detail. It suits people with nasal structure problems, a misshapen nose or repeated reshaping, and people who have had an accident or certain conditions such as cleft lip and palate. This technique helps lift and adjust the nasal structure so it is stronger and treats the problem directly.

At the same time, rhinoplasty materials today include not only silicone implants that meet the clinic’s standards but also ear cartilage or rib cartilage (costal cartilage). These make the nose flexible and strong while lowering the risk of the body rejecting a foreign material, which can lead to scar tissue, nasal infection and inflammation, or a crooked nose shape.

Why Use Your Own Cartilage for Rhinoplasty

• a lower risk of infection and of the body rejecting a foreign material
• a soft nose shape that is not stiff
• a lower chance of the graft shifting or the nasal framework collapsing
• suits people who have had rhinoplasty before and want it corrected
• people who want a much higher bridge than before (for example with a flat nose from birth)
• suits people who do not want synthetic materials or have a history of silicone allergy

Ear cartilage is taken from the ear and used to build part of the nasal tip instead of silicone, for people who want rhinoplasty or reshaping with only a slight increase in height and do not want the nose shape to change much.

Rib cartilage comes from ribs 6 to 8 at the lower part of the rib cage. The surgeon makes an incision under the breast crease about 1.5cm to 3cm long to take this cartilage for rhinoplasty or reshaping. Only 1 or 2 small pieces of rib cartilage are used, and they are not expected to affect the body’s structure, weight-bearing or the shape of the breasts. Taking rib cartilage is also not expected to affect long-term health when the surgery is done by an experienced surgeon.

Read more: Who open rhinoplasty with rib cartilage suits

Surgeons at S45 Clinic perform rhinoplasty and reshaping using ear cartilage and rib cartilage, aiming for a result that lasts a long time and rarely needs further reshaping, unless you want to change the shape to suit your personal taste.

If a previous rhinoplasty has gone wrong, S45 Clinic can assess it and discuss reshaping options for your case.

Why Use Rib Cartilage

Ribs 6 to 8 suit rhinoplasty because their curve and size suit the nasal bridge, and taking them is not expected to affect the lungs, heart or breathing. The incision is under the breast crease and is small, only 1.5cm to 3cm, so the scar is usually hard to see. With careful surgical technique, surgeons at S45 Clinic aim for a neat scar with little effect on the surrounding tissue, and the scar usually fades within 6 to 12 months.

S45 Clinic aims for a rhinoplasty result you are happy with from the first surgery, so you do not need to look for repeat reshaping elsewhere. From past rhinoplasty cases, most people have been fairly satisfied, and most of those who come back want to reshape their nose to follow beauty trends or to suit their face as they get older, for example people who had rhinoplasty 10 to 20 years ago whose facial bones have changed.

Why reshape your nose when S45 Clinic aims for a good result from the first surgery

Note: Repeat nose surgery, which many people know as ‘nose reshaping’, is surgery for people who have had nose surgery before and need a further assessment by a surgeon. The approach to care depends on the original problem, the nose structure and the surgeon’s judgement in each case.