Revision Rhinoplasty with Autologous Costal Cartilage After Previous Donor Rib Cartilage
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I had rhinoplasty using donor rib cartilage about 10 years ago. As more than 10 years passed, however,
I noticed that my nasal tip had gradually dropped compared with the initial result, and my nose started to look somewhat compressed overall.
I decided to undergo another revision to improve the columella and create better overall definition and projection.
Since this was going to be my fourth rhinoplasty, I approached it as if it would be my final surgery. I spent a lot of time researching different clinics,
attending consultations, and reviewing before-and-after photos. Among the clinics I considered,
RU Plastic Surgery stood out because the results looked natural while still showing clear improvement in each patient’s individual concerns.
After visiting several clinics, I found that each surgeon had a different opinion and recommended a different surgical approach,
which made the decision difficult. When I consulted with Dr. Hyun Joo Kim, however,
he accurately identified the same areas that I personally felt needed improvement and clearly explained how he would address them.
That was one of the main reasons I ultimately decided to have my revision rhinoplasty at RU Plastic Surgery.
I was also already aware that autologous costal cartilage is commonly chosen for its structural support and relatively low resorption compared with some alternative cartilage materials.
Knowing that Dr. Kim has extensive experience working with autologous costal cartilage also gave me additional confidence in my decision.
My surgical plan included short nose correction, nasolabial angle adjustment, columellar lowering,
and fascial reinforcement of the nasal tip using autologous costal cartilage and fascia.
I was also advised to consider paranasal augmentation at the same time.
I was a little nervous about adding another procedure at the time, so I decided not to proceed with it, although now I slightly regret not having it done together.
After surgery, the swelling was less severe than I had expected.
Rather than my entire face becoming swollen, most of the swelling and tightness were concentrated around my nose.
I did experience some nasal bleeding for about two days, which was a little uncomfortable.
Personally, the area where the rib cartilage was harvested remained uncomfortable for longer than my nose itself.
I have also been pleasantly surprised by the postoperative care at RU Plastic Surgery,
including the swelling management and follow-up care.
So far, I feel that I made the right decision in trusting the clinic with my revision rhinoplasty.
