I had rhinoplasty with donor rib cartilage but can't feel a difference — why was it used?
2024. 4. 23.
An answer to someone who had donor rib cartilage placed in the columellar strut but can't feel changes in bridge height or tip — donor rib cartilage is used when ear or septal cartilage is unavailable, when the tip needs strong support, or for a drooping arrow-shaped nose, and the exact reason can only be judged knowing the pre-op condition.
Key points
- Donor rib cartilage is used for several reasons — when ear cartilage or septal cartilage is unavailable, when the tip needs to be held with strong force, when the tip droops (arrow-shaped nose), and more.
- Even when the visible height change isn't large, it may have been used in a structural support role like a columellar strut.
- But why it was used in an individual surgery can only be judged by knowing the pre-op nasal condition and whether cartilage was available — so asking the surgeon who performed the operation directly is most accurate.
"I recently had rhinoplasty and donor rib cartilage was used in the columellar strut area. But I can't really feel a difference in my bridge height or tip. Why would they use donor rib cartilage at all? Is it to charge me more?"
When you invest time and money in surgery but can't feel much change, it's natural to question the material choice itself. This article organizes when donor rib cartilage is used, based on an actual answer from Dr. Hyung-taek Kim of KOWON Plastic Surgery.
01
When is donor rib cartilage used?
There are several reasons donor rib cartilage gets used. The representative cases given in the answer are the following.
| When it's used | Why it's needed |
|---|---|
| When ear cartilage or septal cartilage isn't available | No autologous cartilage material usable inside the nose |
| When the tip needs to be held with strong force | A firmer support material is required |
| When the tip is drooping (arrow-shaped nose) | A structure supporting the droop is needed |
In other words, donor rib cartilage is often chosen when force supporting structure is needed — like the tip or columella — rather than as a material that raises height. A small visible change in height or tip doesn't mean the material did nothing. The structure of rib-cartilage rhinoplasty is covered in the rib cartilage rhinoplasty guide, and each material's characteristics in the materials guide.
02
Then how do I confirm why it was used in my surgery?
The answer's premise is clear — because the asker's pre- and post-op condition can't be known, why donor rib cartilage was used must be asked of the surgeon who performed it.
That's because stating the exact reason requires knowing the following.
- Pre-op nasal condition — the degree of tip drooping, how much support was needed, etc.
- Whether cartilage was available — whether usable autologous material like ear or septal cartilage existed
- Various other conditions — the role that material played within the overall surgical plan
The surgeon who performed the operation knows this information most accurately, so if you're curious why a material was chosen, contacting the clinic where you had surgery directly is the right order of steps.
03
Summary — the reason for a material lies in structure, and the answer lies with your surgeon
Donor rib cartilage is a material chosen when autologous cartilage is insufficient or the tip needs strong support — its reason lies in the nose's structural conditions, not cost. Still, only a surgeon who knows the pre-op condition can answer exactly why that material was needed in your surgery, so checking with the clinic where you were operated on first is best.
If you're curious about your nose's conditions ahead of revision or material selection, you can check in a 1:1 video consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
Does donor rib cartilage definitely make the nose higher?
If I can't feel a change, was the wrong material used?
Is donor rib cartilage a material used to raise the cost?
Responses to treatment and recovery progress vary by individual. Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.