Over 2 Months Post-Op: Implant-Free Rhinoplasty with Autologous Rib Cartilage at RU Plastic Surgery
본문
This was my first rhinoplasty, and I underwent the procedure using only autologous tissue—specifically,
sliced rib cartilage for both the nasal tip and dorsum.
The surgical plan included columellar angle correction (nasolabial angle refinement) and correction of a bulbous nasal tip.
One of the main reasons I opted for sliced rib cartilage rather than a silicone implant, even as a first-time patient,
was due to extensive research and conversations with people who had developed complications like contracted nose after using artificial implants.
While not every silicone-based rhinoplasty results in complications,
I was especially anxious about the possibility of postoperative inflammation and the need for revision surgery.
My mindset was to get it right the first time, so I committed to using autologous rib cartilage throughout.
Prior to surgery, I was quite nervous after reading many reviews describing the rib harvesting site as very painful.
Surprisingly, my experience wasn’t as severe as I feared. The discomfort peaked around days 2 to 3, but by the end of the first week,
I only felt mild soreness when making large or forceful movements. By the third week,
the pain had subsided enough that it barely registered in daily life.
Now that I’m a little over two months post-op, I find that I actually prefer the appearance compared to the one-month mark.
The side profile hasn’t changed significantly, but from the front, the nasal tip—previously bulbous—has visibly become more refined and slender.
At my one-month follow-up, Dr. Hyun Joo Kim told me that the side view would remain stable,
but the frontal shape would continue to slim down, and his prediction was spot-on.
I’m currently preparing a list of questions for my upcoming three-month check-up,
as I continue to be diligent with my follow-up care and am very satisfied with the results so far.
