Can You Use Rib Cartilage For Brow Bone Augmentation?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a couple more questions. How tall is your highest rib cartilage for nose bridge augmentation? How tall is your highest rib cartilage for brow bone implants? In millimeters. I have a flat ethnic nose bridge and a low brow bone.

A: The upper end of most brow bone implants is in the 7 to 8mms range. Rib grafts to the nose are in the 7 to 8mm range also. Both are somewhat controlled by the tolerance of the soft tissues to stretch to accommodate what is placed beneath them.

Given the need for brow bone and nasal bridge augmentation one consideration is a one piece brow bone-nasal implant design. You can’t make a brow bone implant out of cartilage.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana