Preoperative considerations, operative preparation, and postoperative care for rib cartilage use in rhinoplasty

Abstract

Rib cartilage is the most reliable material for structural support and dorsal augmentation in Asian rhinoplasty with its robust strength and bountiful amount. Its value is incomparable especially in complex, cartilage-depleted revision surgery or major reconstruction. There are many articles regarding harvesting and carving of rib cartilage in rhinoplasty, however, only few has focused on preoperative and postoperative issues. Preoperatively, evaluating cartilage availability, assessing quality and quantity of cartilage, and choosing the cartilage to harvest are necessary. Although easily overlooked, proper postoperative management of rib cartilage rhinoplasty patients is key to prevent infection and heighten patient satisfaction. Here in, I would like to introduce how I evaluate rib cartilage rhinoplasty patients preoperatively and manage them postoperatively to maximize the surgical results.