Cartilage and Fascia Harvesting for Rhinoplasty

Abstract

The harvesting of cartilage from the nasal septum is an integral part of the BOR surgical method. Even in primary cases, the use of this source of cartilage is close to 100%.

Rarely, but even in primary patients, the septum may be considered depleted if it is mostly bony or if the cartilage is severely damaged or deformed from previous multiple traumas.

One particular skill of the nasal surgeon is to preoperatively evaluate the need for cartilage grafts, from the point of view of both quantity and quality, and to plan a sure or highly probable intraoperative time for harvesting from an extranasal donor site. In these cases, the patient must be aware of the objectives of his reconstructive surgery and of the need to harvest cartilage.

The same principles also apply to the harvesting of autologous fascia, when it is necessary to create a uniform and soft layer between the reconstructed nasal framework and the soft tissue envelope.