FAQ:
Building up the nasal bridge
We occasionally
want to build up, or augment, the bridge of the nose during a
rhinoplasty. (The "bridge" is what I call the profile line
of the nose, the part that you trace with your finger if you put your
finger on your nose between your eyes and slide it down to your tip.
Plastic surgeons call that part of your nose the "dorsum.")
Perhaps the bridge has caved in after an accident, or
maybe it was lowered too much during a previous rhinoplasty. Some
people are born with a bridge that naturally sits close to the face. For
example, most Asian noses have low nasal bridges, and Asian rhinoplasty patients
frequently request that the bridge of the nose be strengthened.
Here is an example of a nasal bridge that was
augmented during a rhinoplasty:
Many different
materials are used to elevate the bridge of the nose. The main
decision that the surgeon makes is whether to use natural materials
taken from the patient or from another person, or whether to use one of
the artificial materials that are safe to place in the nose.
Each category has its advantages and disadvantages.
The most common
natural material is cartilage, which can be taken from the nasal septum,
or from the ear, or from a rib. The location from which the
cartilage is taken depends mostly on how much cartilage is needed.
If a very large graft is required, rib will be used. The nasal
septum or the ear
can serve as a source of cartilage for smaller grafts. Many
surgeons prefer to use artificial materials to build up the bridge of the
nose. Dr. Denenberg prefers Gore-Tex®, which has many advantages
over cartilage. Cartilage is firm, like the cartilage that covers
the end of a chicken bone, and the cartilage that can be retrieved from
the septum or the ear is exceedingly difficult to carve so that it is the
right size and shape, and so that it won't show any sharp edges or ridges
or corners
underneath the thin skin of the nose. Gore-Tex® is like a thick
piece of cloth, that can be draped over the area of the bridge of the
nose. It doesn't show any edges or corners underneath the skin, and
it looks very natural. It also doesn't require the additional surgery
that is necessary to obtain a cartilage graft, and it is available even if
all of the other nasal and ear cartilage has already been harvested during
a previous operation. Other
natural and artificial materials are available as well. A thin piece
of bone can be taken from the skull to place along the bridge of the
nose. Solid silicone is an artificial material that can work well in some
people. Plastic
surgeons argue continually over which material is the best.
Different doctors have different favorites. In general, if you need
augmentation of the bridge of your nose, don't go about it by deciding
which material you would prefer and then finding a plastic surgeon who
uses that material. Plastic surgeons who can do this operation
competently are too rare. If you find a plastic surgeon who appears
to be excellent, and he shows you photographs of other patients who had
their noses augmented with excellent results, then certainly discuss your
thoughts with him, but allow him to guide the final decision. He
knows what materials work best in his hands. Go
here for more information on finding a plastic
surgeon who is competent to perform a rhinoplasty.
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