Rebuilding Noses | Medical News and Health Information

Reported May 20, 2011
Rebuilding Noses -- Research Summary

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, is often referred to as "nose reshaping" or a "nose job." This procedure can improve the appearance and proportion of a person's nose, while enhancing facial harmony. Surgery of the nose can also correct impaired breathing that is sometimes caused by structural abnormalities in the nose. Rhinoplasty can change the nose size, the nose width, the nose profile, the nasal tip, the nostrils that are large, and the nasal asymmetry. Patients who are candidates for this procedure must be physically healthy, nonsmokers, and be at least 13 years of age or older.
(SOURCE: www.plasticsurgery.org)

GRAFTING MATERIAL: Septal cartilage is generally the preferred grafting material for rhinoplasty, but in some patients, there is inadequate tissue, especially for revision procedures. Other approaches have included harvesting the patient's own ear cartilage, but the size and shape of the cartilage may limit its suitability.
(SOURCE: www.medicalnewstoday.com)

DONATED RIB CARTILAGE: Now, some doctors are using irradiated rib cartilage as part of the rhinoplasty procedure. Homografts using rib cartilage salvaged from previously healthy donors such as lethal trauma victims may offer advantages. The salvaged tissue is screened for diseases and exposed to 30,000 to 50,000 Gy of gamma radiation to remove antigenicity. It is stored in saline in tissue banks. The donor cartilage has a long shelf life. It's good for five years from the time it's harvested.

RESULTS: Russel Kridel, M.D., a facial plastic surgeon from UT Health Science Center at Houston, conducted a study and found that using donor cartilage instead of a patient's own cartilage reduces cost, pain, surgery time and recovery. He says there is ongoing research to explore the possibility of using artificial cartilage in plastic surgery procedures like rhinoplasty. [Rebuilding Noses -- Research Summary | Medical News and Health Information] MORE >> Rebuilding Noses -- In Depth Doctor's Interview | Medical News and Health Information

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Cindy Romeo
Patient Coordinator for Dr. Kridel
(800) 621-7531


Rebuilding Noses | Medical News and Health Information