Cartilage Allografts for Aesthetic Nose Surgery: A Viable Option

BACKGROUND: Illusions in rhinoplasty are a powerful tool yet often overlooked. There are numerous examples of how a specific change in 1 part of the nose will influence the balance of the nose on the entire face. Although cartilage autograft remains the gold standard in structural reconstruction of the nose, for selected cases, allografts can be favored. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was performed on all patients who underwent cartilage allograft for aesthetic nose surgery from January 2012 to June 2017. All patients were informed of the therapeutic and experimental nature of the localized cartilage allograft use and then consented to the procedure orally and in writing. From January 2012 to June 2017, a total of 105 patients were operated on using cartilage allografts. RESULTS: Of these 105 patients, follow-up to a year was achieved in 97. CONCLUSION: The use of cartilage allograft in our practice has been a useful proven tool that can help manage a patient aesthetic outcome. This gives us the opportunity for cartilage banking and thus, using it, fewer incisions and scars on our patients.