A nasal tip auricular cartilage graft is a surgery in which cartilage harvested from behind the ear is grafted to the nasal tip to adjust its height and shape. It is commonly performed in combination with nasal tip plasty.
Recommended for those with these concerns:
- Bulbous nasal tip
- Upturned nose
- Downturned nose
- Appearance of the nostrils
Procedure Details
An incision of about 1.5–2 cm is made behind the ear to harvest the required amount of cartilage from the concha (the bowl of the ear). Next, an incision is made from the nasal mucosa to the skin of the columella, and the left and right lower lateral cartilages are brought to the center and secured. The harvested cartilage is used to create a columellar strut for reinforcement, and additional cartilage is placed on the nasal tip using an onlay technique to increase tip projection. Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures.
Recovery and Aftercare
Swelling and Bruising
Swelling and bruising are most noticeable for 1–2 weeks after the surgery, but they will gradually settle down and can be concealed with makeup.
Thereafter, residual swelling will gradually subside, and the tip will settle into its final, more refined shape over about 3 months.
Pain and swelling behind the ear where the cartilage was harvested usually subside within a few days to 1 week.
Daily Life
Please sleep on your back so that no strong external force is applied to the nose.
Please also avoid touching or wetting the surgical site for the first week, or until your doctor tells you it is safe to do so. Please do not blow your nose for about 1 month after the surgery.
Risks and Side Effects
Risks and side effects include infection, scarring, asymmetry, pain, edema, redness, swelling, and bruising.
