The Clinical Use of Various Nasal Implants in Rhinoplasty

ABSTRACT

From an aesthetic surgical point of view, rhinoplasty is one of most important field. The nose of asian is characterized by thin and weak nasal septal cartilage, wide and small alar cartilage, bulbous nasal tip due to excessive fibrous tissue and thick skin. Conventional rhinoplasty is not enough to get a satisfactory result. In order to produce optimal nasal shape, it is extremely important to augment the tip along with nasal dorsum in most of the patients. From March of 1997 to June of 1999, total 162 patient underwent open rhinoplasty with various nasal implants. Surgical approach was done through the transcolumella incision and alar rim incision. The nasal dorsum was augmented with silicone implant, and columella shape was controlled by 0.85-mm thickness porous high-density polyethylene sheet(Medpor). Porous high-density polyethylene sheet was 4mm width and was placed between the medial crura. The nasal tip was corrected by Polytetrafluoroethylene(Gore-Tex) implant. Reverse pyramidal shaped onlay graft of Polytetrafluoroethylene(Gore-Tex"") implant was not palpable on nasal tip skin. We obtained harmonious nasal shape and high patient satisfaction. There was two infection and one exposure of Polytetra- fluoroethylene(Gore-Tex) implant, but there was no other major complications. We believe that this method is stable, reliable, predictable, valuable technique for rhinoplasty, but we think that further follow up and study are needed.