2026-05-25
A Guide to the Types of Nasal Implants and Cartilage!
Hello. This is VIVE Plastic Surgery. Among plastic surgeries, eye surgery and rhinoplasty are the most commonly performed procedures. In the case of rhinoplasty, before the surgery, deciding which implant to use is a very important step. [What types of nasal implants are there?] The types of implants frequently used for the nasal bridge include silicone, Gore-Tex, and Silitex. Currently, the most widely used nasal implant in rhinoplasty is the silicone implant.

Hello.
This is VIVE Plastic Surgery.
Among plastic surgeries,
eye surgery and rhinoplasty
are the most commonly performed procedures.
In the case of rhinoplasty, before the surgery,
deciding which implant to use
is a very important step.

[What types of nasal implants are there?]
The types of implants frequently used for the nasal bridge
include silicone, Gore-Tex, and Silitex.
Currently, the most widely used nasal implant in rhinoplasty
is the silicone implant.
For the nasal tip, avoiding the placement of an implant
as much as possible
yields better results and higher satisfaction.
Therefore, autologous cartilage is usually used for the nasal tip.

The types of autologous cartilage
include ear cartilage, septal cartilage, and rib cartilage.
These three types are the most commonly used.

At one time, Gore-Tex implants were widely used,
but as their disadvantages compared to silicone became more prominent,
they are not used as much today.
Silitex is an implant that originated from the idea of combining
only the advantages of silicone and Gore-Tex,
but nowadays, compared to silicone implants,
its frequency of use is quite low.
[Types of Silicone Implants by Nose Shape]

Implant type for a low nasal bridge
This type of implant
is advantageous for creating the straight-yet-slightly-curved line
that is highly preferred these days.

Implant type for a nose with a dorsal hump
This type of implant
is slightly thinner in the middle,
making it more advantageous for cases
where there is a slight dorsal hump.
When there is a hump, we do not shave it all down
and then insert the implant.
The reason is that the surgical method varies depending on
the size and protrusion of the hump.
Since there is a limit to the thickness of the bone,
trying to resolve it by excessively shaving it down
can cause issues such as a perforation on the inside or the bone growing back.
Therefore, the hump is usually trimmed moderately
and covered using an implant.

Implant type for a nasal bridge that is not low
This implant might be unfamiliar to you,
but it is a type that is low at the bridge and gets thicker towards the bottom.
Usually, when the nasal bridge is not low and the nasal tip is developed and high,
a high implant is not needed at the top,
so an implant that starts thin at the bridge and gets thicker towards the bottom
must be used.
Because there is such a variety of nasal implants,
the implant deemed most suitable
is selected during surgery, sculpted to fit your nose,
and then used.

In the past, implants
were placed starting from the beginning of the nasal bridge
all the way down to the nasal tip.
However, in that case, it strongly compressed
the thin skin of the nasal tip,
causing the skin to thin out, or in severe cases, resulting in side effects
where the implant protruded through the skin.
However, through experience, we have learned
that using autologous cartilage definitely yields better results,
so nowadays, we try to construct the nasal tip
using only cartilage whenever possible.
[Types of Cartilage Used for the Nasal Tip]

Septal Cartilage
The cartilage called the septum
is the cartilage that forms the wall right in the middle,
separating the left and right sides inside the nose.
Its characteristics are that it is usually straight, thin,
and has the advantage of being strong.
Therefore, if the septal size is good and the shape is not deviated,
it is the first-choice type of cartilage.

Ear Cartilage
Ear cartilage is not harvested from the outer frame,
but from the concave part on the inside.
Therefore, functionally, structurally, and morphologically,
within a range that causes absolutely no problems,
the cartilage is harvested and used.
Its characteristic is that it is soft and has many curves,
so there are cases where it has limits in extending straight under pressure.
On the other hand, it is a great material
for producing natural results.
However, having curves
is not entirely a disadvantage.
If these curves are well utilized and folded into shape,
the curves fold naturally, allowing a high and strong
cartilage pillar to be created,
which is why we recommend ear cartilage just as much as septal cartilage.

Rib Cartilage
Through multiple revision surgeries,
if septal or ear cartilage has already been used,
or if both are weak and lack strength but a sharp and high nose
is desired, rib cartilage is chosen.
If your own cartilage is used, it is autologous rib cartilage,
and if it is purchased from a commercial tissue bank,
donated rib cartilage is used.

Non-implant surgery
is performed using only your own cartilage,
so you can think of it as an implant-free procedure.

At VIVE Plastic Surgery,
the chief director personally performs the surgery for proper aesthetic results,
and aftercare is also customized to help with a stable recovery.
Additionally, all spaces in the clinic are single rooms,
so you can rest comfortably without any burden after surgery.




