I keep hearing about cartilage being grafted to the nose

Question:
I keep hearing about cartilage being grafted to the nose during a rhinoplasty to build up areas if needed. I’m 22, female, and I have a very weak nose. I think I’ll probably need grafts like this when I get my rhinoplasty, but I can’t figure out how the grafts might work. How is a cartilage graft incorporated into the nose during a nose job?

Answer
Cartilage grafts during rhinoplasty is a very common procedure. The grafts are harvested from either your septum, ear, or less commonly, your rib. The grafts are carved, crushed, or sewn into the appropriate position on your nose to achieve the desired rhinoplasty result. Your body will naturally incorporate any of your own cartilage into the location that you have transplanted it. In the case of rhinoplasty, this would be your nose. I really like using one’s own cartilage in rhinoplasty and revision rhinoplasty because of this incorporation and the low risk of the body rejecting the cartilage or infection from occurring.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld