Yes, and it's a genuinely good option in the right circumstances. Irradiated homologous costal cartilage — cartilage from a donor source that's been sterilized through irradiation — is a well-established material in rhinoplasty, offering solid structural support without the additional harvesting step and its associated small risks. For patients who, for various reasons, aren't good candidates for rib harvesting, or who simply prefer to avoid chest surgery, donor cartilage is a reasonable and effective alternative.
One practical thing worth knowing: because donor cartilage has a real material cost, some clinics use less of it than a given correction actually calls for, in order to reduce expenses. This can mean a less complete structural result than the surgical plan originally called for. At our clinic, once donor cartilage is decided on as the material for your case, we use the full amount your correction genuinely requires — nothing is scaled back to cut costs. It's a reasonable question to ask any surgeon: exactly how much donor cartilage is being used, and why.
Consultation Tip
If donor cartilage is part of your plan, ask specifically how much will be used for your correction, and confirm this is documented as part of your surgical plan before the day of surgery — it's a simple way to ensure the material amount matches what your case actually needs.
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— Dr. Hyung-taek Kim, KOWON Plastic Surgery