Nasal Tip Plasty Using a Batten Graft with Ear Cartilage in East Asians

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Plastic surgeons have constantly investigated methods of nasal tip plasty and nasal lengthening in rhinoplasty. The septal extension graft has been widely applied as a very useful method for East Asians who have different internal nasal structures and nasal skin from those of Caucasians. In this study, we performed nasal tip plasty with a batten-type septal extension graft using ear cartilage. METHODS: Nasal tip plasty was performed for 48 patients by batten graft with ear cartilages at the Cocoa Plastic Surgery Clinic and in the plastic surgery unit of Hanil General Hospital from January 2009 to January 2015. A batten-type septal extension graft was constructed with cymba of the concha cartilage. An average area of 2.0 cm × 1.4 cm of the cymba and 1.0 cm × 1.0 cm of the cavum from the concha cartilage was harvested. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients who underwent batten-type septal extension graft using ear cartilages, nasal tip plasty and columellar lengthening were successfully achieved in almost all of the patients. The nasal tip's height was well-maintained for the follow-up period ranging from 6 months to 5 years after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal tip plasty using a septal extension graft is a very useful method for East Asians with a low nasal tip. The septal extension graft with ear cartilage enables the creation of a desirable nasal shape because there is a sufficient amount of ear cartilage to stably support the nasal tip, thus creating a natural and smooth nose shape.