Why the name RIBFIT™ was created — the meaning of custom rib cartilage in Rib and Fit
2025. 2. 26.
Why KOWON Plastic Surgery named its autologous rib cartilage rhinoplasty RIBFIT™ — questions about a silicone-free bridge, CT-data-based design, and the difference between 'rib cartilage rhinoplasty' and 'custom rib cartilage fitted to my nose.'
Key points
- RIBFIT™ combines Rib (rib cartilage) + Fit (custom fit) — not simply surgery using rib cartilage, but the concept of analyzing the patient's CT data and nasal structure to fabricate a customized implant.
- Questions like "Can the bridge be made without silicone?" grew, and thinking about autologous tissue beyond the limits of artificial materials was the starting point of the name.
- Because each person's face·nasal bone curvature·desired image differs, it carries the concept of "custom rib cartilage fitted to my nose" rather than just "rib cartilage rhinoplasty."
There are questions we hear often during rhinoplasty consultations.
01
What concern did the name RIBFIT™ start from?
The name expresses, through Rib (rib cartilage) and Fit (custom fit), the concept of making the bridge with autologous rib cartilage — no silicone — fitted to each patient's different CT and nasal structure.
> 'Is there no autologous tissue that can move beyond the limits of artificial materials and give more stable results?'
RIBFIT™ started from that very concern. It was a concern in the same direction as the growing flow of questions worried about silicone inflammation and requests to make a nose that feels like one's own, without an implant feel.
02
How does RIBFIT™ differ from ordinary rib cartilage rhinoplasty?
RIBFIT™ is not simply surgery that uses rib cartilage. It's a concept in the following order.
- Analyze the patient's CT data and nasal structure.
- Design a shape matching the individual's facial proportions.
- Following that design, fabricate a customized implant using autologous rib cartilage.
| Expression | Embedded concept |
|---|---|
| Rib cartilage rhinoplasty | The fact that the material (rib cartilage) is used |
| Custom rib cartilage (RIBFIT™) | The process: CT·nasal structure analysis → design matching facial proportions → custom fabrication |
Because even with the same surgery, each person's face differs, nasal bone curvature differs, and desired image differs. So we thought the concept of "custom rib cartilage fitted to my nose" mattered more than the simple expression "rib cartilage rhinoplasty." How autologous rib cartilage is used can be seen in more detail in the autologous rib cartilage RIBFIT™ guide.
And carrying that philosophy, the name RIBFIT™ — meaning Rib (rib cartilage) + Fit (custom fit) — was created.
03
What direction of rhinoplasty does the name carry?
We think rhinoplasty is ultimately not a surgery that makes height but a surgery that makes facial balance. It's the same direction as patients' criteria shifting from "how high" to "a line that suits my face."
Going forward, KOWON Plastic Surgery will keep working, true to RIBFIT™'s original meaning, to make 'the nose that best fits each individual patient.'
04
Summary — the concept came before the name
RIBFIT™ wasn't a name given first with a concept attached later — the concept of "custom rib cartilage fitted to my nose" was organized first, then the name Rib + Fit was attached. Underneath it is the perspective of seeing rhinoplasty as a matter of facial balance, not height.
If you're curious whether autologous rib cartilage rhinoplasty fits your case, it can be checked in a 1:1 video consultation. Actual cases can be seen in before-and-after photos.
Frequently asked questions
Answers to common questions patients ask before a consultation.
What does RIBFIT™ mean?
Isn't RIBFIT™ just the same surgery as rib cartilage rhinoplasty?
Why did you come to think about autologous tissue?
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.