2026-05-25
Low Hump Nose and Bulbous Tip Correction
A case study of a 20-year-old female patient who underwent rhinoplasty to correct a low hump nose and a bulbous tip using donated rib cartilage.
* Basic Information
- 20s female
- Low nasal bridge with a hump
- Blunt appearance due to a bulbous tip
* Consultation
- The patient wanted to improve the unevenness caused by the hump on her low bridge.
- She expressed stress over the blunt impression caused by her bulbous nose.
- While she desired a sleek ‘straight-semi-curved’ line, her alar and septal cartilages were small. It was determined that autologous cartilage alone would be insufficient, so the surgery was planned using donated rib cartilage.
* Surgical Plan
- Bridge Rhinoplasty (Hump correction, elevation with silicone implant)
- Tip Rhinoplasty (Donated rib cartilage + Septal cartilage: Septal extension graft & Ear cartilage: Onlay graft)
- Alar reduction
* Post-operative Progress
1. The septum was harvested while preserving as much as possible, and the nasal tip was shaped using donated rib cartilage and ear cartilage. As a result, a natural yet sharp straight-semi-curved tip was achieved.
2. To correct the bulbous tip, some fatty tissue was removed, and alar reduction was performed to create a more slender and sophisticated look.
* Key Points
1. There are differing opinions among both patients and surgeons regarding the use of donated rib cartilage. While I do not recommend or insist on its use unconditionally, I believe it is a viable option when truly necessary.
2. The biggest concerns with donated rib cartilage are inflammation and tip drooping. Since it is a foreign material, the risk of inflammation may be slightly higher compared to using only autologous cartilage. Also, depending on the absorption rate, the tip may unexpectedly droop or warp.
3. However, I believe these issues mostly occur when the tip is raised excessively beyond what the individual can handle, or when influenced by factors like smoking. Therefore, if a proper surgical plan is established and negative factors like smoking are avoided, donated rib cartilage is a sufficiently good and sometimes necessary material.
Consultations and surgeries should be performed by a plastic surgery specialist!
Wishing you both health and beauty today :)
Right Thought, Right Plastic Surgery - Dr. Yoo Young-moon
Complications and side effects such as bleeding, inflammation, infection, and asymmetry may occur after surgery and vary by individual; caution is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the patient's concerns about their nose?
The patient wanted to improve their low nose bridge, the unevenness caused by a dorsal hump, and the blunt impression due to a bulbous nose. They desired a sleek, semi-straight line.
What materials were used for the nose tip surgery?
Donated costal cartilage, septal cartilage, and ear cartilage were used for the nose tip surgery. Since the patient's own cartilage was insufficient, donated costal cartilage was utilized for septal extension grafting and ear cartilage overlapping grafting.
When is the use of donated costal cartilage considered?
The use of donated costal cartilage is considered when it is determined that the patient's own cartilage is not sufficient for the surgery. It is not always recommended, but it can be a good material in truly necessary cases.
What side effects can occur when using donated costal cartilage?
Inflammation and drooping of the nose tip are the biggest issues when using donated costal cartilage. As it is a foreign material, the chance of inflammation may be slightly higher than with autologous cartilage, and the nose tip may droop or deviate depending on the degree of absorption.
What are the ways to reduce side effects of donated costal cartilage?
To reduce side effects, it is important to plan the surgery appropriately without excessively raising the nose tip. Additionally, avoiding factors that can negatively affect the nose, such as smoking, is crucial.
What kind of nose line was achieved after the surgery?
After the surgery, a natural yet prominent semi-straight nose tip line was achieved. Through bulbous nose correction and alar reduction, a sharper and more refined look was obtained.