Can doctors reuse the cartilage from their patients nose instead of plastic?

Hi Taneya,

Based on my experience with my own consultations and also assisting patients with their appointments is that this all depends on the patient’s condition and if they have enough healthy sources of cartilage available.

But yes, this is called autologous material. It’s a medical term that means from ones’ own body, this is usually the most preferred material to use. Cartilage used for rhinoplasty or nose surgery usually comes from 3 sources: ear, nose (septum) or rib area. Each is used for different purposes.

Material not from your body, or what you refer to as “plastic”

Silicone or synthetic material or implants is typically used to shape the bridge & slope of the nose. Another source may be irradiated donor cartilage which comes from cadavers, which is non-living tissue that has been processed and reshaped can be manipulated to take the place of grafts that would normally from your own cartilage.