While most rhinoplasty patients wish that their nose was smaller in size, others wish their nose was larger. In particular, rhinoplasty for many Asian and African-American patients involves enlarging the bridge of the nose. Lack of a strong nasal bridge often makes the nose appear shorter and fatter than it is. Making the nose bridge more prominent is often done through the use of nasal implants. Nasal implants may also be used to repair damage due to trauma, birth defects, repeated surgeries, or prolonged drug use.
There are several different kinds of nasal implants used during rhinoplasty surgery. Most plastic surgeons prefer to use natural tissues grafted into the nose. Known as an autologus graft, this material may be cartilage from the ear or bone from the ribs, for example. The advantage of this type of nasal implant is that it will be accepted better by the patient's body. However, there is a chance that the tissue could be partially re-absorbed by the body, changing the aesthetic results in an unpredictable manner.
Synthetic grafts come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. While they do carry a slightly higher risk of infection or rejection by the body, they will not shrink after implantation, leading to more predictable aesthetic results. Nasal implants are usually made from silicone, Gortex, or PTFE, three types of synthetic materials made to mimic bone or cartilage. Facial implants made from these materials are solid yet flexible, and come in a variety of sizes and shapes, enabling the surgeon to select an implant based on the patient's desires.
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