Can A Diced Ear Cartilage Graft Be Removed From The Nose?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m 42 years old female and I just had a 3rd Revision Rhinoplasty to remove mersilene mesh implant but the surgeon inserted 12mm diced ear cartilage to have dorsal and bridge augmentation from one ear and made my nose misalignment, huge and high.

Is it true that it is hard to remove all those diced ear cartilages inserted into the nose after one year since I’ve got so many diced ear cartilage pieces and replace them with rib grafts? Will the surgery be somewhat messy and have unpredictable outcome?

Please help, thanks very much

A: I would not envision removing a diced cartilage graft to the nose to be any more difficult than that of mersilene mesh In fact mersilene mesh would be harder to remove. After one one year the diced ear cartilage graft is much more like a composite graft and may be able to even be shaved down. If reduction of the height is the goal I would think that reducing the graft you have would likely be what is needed, not necessarily total removal and replacement with a rib graft….uness there are some major irregularities or contour issues with it.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana