Rhinoplasty Q&A
Find answers to rhinoplasty questions from Dr. Kim.
173 questions
How painful is the rib cartilage harvesting process?
During surgery, you won't feel the harvesting itself, since it's performed under the same general anesthesia as your rhinoplasty.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Can rib cartilage be used for both bridge and tip work?
Yes — rib cartilage is versatile enough to be shaped for structural support in both the bridge and the tip, often within the same surgery.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Why use rib cartilage instead of silicone or septal cartilage?
The core reason comes down to quantity and durability. Septal and ear cartilage are limited in supply and better suited to smaller corrections, while…
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →What cartilage grafts are used to define the tip?
Several specific graft types are commonly used in nasal tip surgery, each serving a different structural purpose.
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Why does my nose tip move when I smile or talk?
This is almost always caused by the depressor septi nasi muscle, which runs from your upper lip to the base of your nasal septum.
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →What is a columella and why does it matter in tip surgery?
The columella is the strip of skin and underlying tissue that separates your two nostrils, running from the tip down to the upper lip.
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →How does thick or thin skin affect tip surgery results?
Skin thickness has a major effect on how visible your cartilage work ends up looking.
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Does taking rib cartilage leave a visible scar?
Yes, there is a small scar — but incision length isn't actually the main factor that determines how well it heals.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Can a bulbous (round) nose tip be refined?
Yes — a bulbous or rounded nasal tip is one of the most common concerns addressed in tip plasty, and it's generally caused by wide, weak, or poorly…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →Can the tip be raised without changing the bridge?
Yes — tip rotation and projection can be adjusted independently of the bridge, provided the bridge doesn't need to change to stay in visual harmony with…
Nasal Tip RefinementRead answer →How is rib cartilage warping (bending) prevented?
Warping — where a carved piece of rib cartilage gradually curves or twists due to internal tension released during harvesting — is a well-documented…
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →Will removing rib cartilage affect my breathing or chest movement?
For the vast majority of patients, no — only a small segment of cartilage is removed, and the rib itself, along with surrounding chest wall function, is left intact.
Rib Cartilage & Ribfit TechniqueRead answer →
The History of Rhinoplasty
The history of rhinoplasty, as Dr. Kim has seen it
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