'Tissue clay'. A new technique for augmentation rhinoplasty

A new technique for dorsal augmentation during rhinoplasty was utilized in 58 patients over a period of four years. Microfibrillar collagen (Avitene) was combined immediately before the operation with autogenous whole blood, forming a "tissue clay," which was then sculpted into the desired dorsal contour. Tissue clay solidifies after one week and becomes palpably similar to bone. Long-standing results of four years have documented the ability of the substance to augment the nose up to 1 cm in height. There have been no complications to date, and the average resorption rate over a two- to four-year period was 16%. The esthetic and functional results in 58 cases were deemed excellent, safe, and effective.