A Guide to the Types of Nose Implants and Cartilage!

Hello.

This is Vibe Plastic Surgery.

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Among plastic surgeries,

eye and nose surgeries

are the most commonly performed procedures.

In the case of rhinoplasty, prior to surgery,

choosing which implant to use

is very important.

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[What types of nose implants are there?]

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The types of implants commonly used for the nasal bridge

include silicone, Gore-Tex, and Silitex.

Currently, the most widely used nose implant in rhinoplasty

is the silicone implant.

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For the nasal tip, avoiding the placement of an implant

as much as possible

yields better results and higher satisfaction.

Therefore, autologous cartilage is usually used for the nasal tip.

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The types of autologous cartilage

are ear cartilage, septal cartilage, and rib cartilage.

These three types are the most frequently used.

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At one time, Gore-Tex implants were widely used,

but as their disadvantages compared to silicone became more prominent,

they are rarely used today.

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Silitex is an implant that started from the idea

of combining only the advantages of silicone and Gore-Tex,

but nowadays, compared to silicone implants,

its frequency of use is also very low.

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[Types of Silicone Implants by Nose Shape]

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Implant Type for a Low Nasal Bridge

This type of implant

is advantageous for creating the straight-yet-slightly-curved (jik-ban) line

that is highly preferred these days.

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Implant Type for a Hump Nose

This type of implant

is slightly thinner in the middle,

making it more advantageous for cases

where there is a slight dorsal hump.

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When there is a hump, we do not shave it all down

and just insert an implant.

The reason is that the surgical method varies depending on

the size and the degree of protrusion of the hump.

Since there is a limit to the thickness of the bone,

trying to resolve it by excessively shaving it down

can cause issues like perforating the inner structure or having the bone grow back.

Therefore, the hump is often moderately smoothed out

and covered using an implant.

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Implant Type for a Nasal Bridge That Is Not Low

This implant might be unfamiliar to you,

but it is a type that starts thin at the bridge and gets thicker towards the bottom.

Usually, if the nasal bridge is not low and the nasal tip is well-developed and high,

a high implant is not needed at the top,

so an implant that starts thin at the bridge and thickens downwards

must be used.

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Because nose implants are this diverse,

the implant deemed most suitable

is selected during surgery, sculpted to fit your nose,

and then used.

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In the past, implants

were placed all the way from the starting point of the nasal bridge

down to the nasal tip.

However, in such cases, it strongly pressured

the thin skin of the nasal tip,

causing side effects like the skin thinning out or, in severe cases,

the implant protruding through the skin.

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However, as we learned through experience

that using autologous cartilage yields definitively better results,

we now try to construct the nasal tip

using only cartilage whenever possible.

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[Types of Cartilage Used for the Nasal Tip]

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Septal Cartilage

The cartilage called the septum

is the wall-like cartilage located right in the center inside the nose,

separating the left and right sides.

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Its characteristics are that it is usually straight, thin,

and has good structural strength.

If the septum is of a good size and not deviated,

it is the first-choice cartilage type.

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Ear Cartilage

Ear cartilage is not harvested from the outer frame,

but from the concave inner part (concha).

Therefore, the cartilage is harvested and used

within a range that causes absolutely no functional, structural, or morphological issues.

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Its characteristics are that it is soft and highly curved,

so there can be limits to its ability to provide straight, rigid support.

On the other hand, it is an excellent material

for achieving natural-looking results.

However, having curves

is not entirely a disadvantage.

If these curves are utilized well by folding the shape,

the curves fold onto themselves to create a high and strong

cartilage pillar,

which is why we recommend ear cartilage just as much as septal cartilage.

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Rib Cartilage

Through multiple revision surgeries,

if septal or ear cartilage has already been used,

or if both are weak and lack strength but you desire a sharp and high nose,

rib cartilage is chosen.

If your own cartilage is used, it is autologous rib cartilage,

and if it is purchased from a commercial tissue bank,

donated rib cartilage is used.

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Implant-free surgery

is performed using only your own cartilage,

so you can think of it as a truly no-implant procedure.

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At Vibe Plastic Surgery,

the chief surgeon personally operates for proper plastic surgery,

and aftercare is also customized to assist with a stable recovery.

Additionally, all spaces within the clinic are single private rooms,

allowing you to rest comfortably without any burden after surgery.

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