ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the trans-areola approach for costicartilage harvesting in order to avoid the obvious scar resulted by traditional approach through chest incision.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 2013, 7 cases who underwent rhinoplasty received costicartilage harvesting through trans-areola approach. The incision was designed along the lower interior edge of right areola. Then the dissection was performed to expose the 5th costicartilage. Then a costicartilage, 2 - 5 cm in length, was harvested. The incision was closed delicately. The suture was removed 7 days after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The patients were followed up for 3 months to 2 years without hypertrophic scar and breast deformity. The scar was located in conceal location. The satisfactory rate was higher than that in patients with chest incision.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The scar resulted from trans-areola approach is comparatively conceal, compared with that at chest.</p>