Rib cartilage in Asian rhinoplasty: new trends

Costal cartilage has many advantages over other grafting materials because of its large quantity and high biocompatibility. As a result, it has been considered as a good option for Asian rhinoplasty. However, costal cartilage is difficult to use and is associated with a high complication rate. To avoid the disadvantages and complications of costal cartilage graft, several techniques have been proposed in the literature. This review addresses the conventional uses of costal cartilage in Asian rhinoplasty and recent updates.

Different techniques have been reported for Asian rhinoplasty using costal cartilage. Solid-block costal cartilage and diced cartilage with or without wrapping materials are widely used for dorsal augmentation. Many different grafting techniques for the tip and septal reconstruction have been reported by numerous surgeons. When using costal cartilage graft, surgeons should pay attention to both graft complications, such as warping or infection, and donor-site morbidity. Several strategies have recently been developed to avoid these complications.

This article summarises grafting options for Asian rhinoplasty using costal cartilage and possible complications. This information may assist with proper selection of appropriate techniques for harvesting, carving and grafting costal cartilage.