Ear cartilage graft harvesting

Nasal cartilage grafting is an essential group of techniques in structure, ethnic, custom, revision and reconstructive rhinoplasties, being the ideal donor sites the nasal septum, ear concha and the rib.

Ear concha is the choice when a thin, slightly curved, short and flexible grafting is required, especially at the tip, lower lateral cruras, columella, etc.

It is accomplished by means of a retroauricular incision behind the ear.

Great care must be taken not to harvest critical support elements of the ear cartilage which would cause unsightly and visible deformities at the auricle, ear droopiness, abnormal creases, creases deletion, etc, which would require revision in the future; at the concha bowl we have to island of cartilage which can be safely harvested, but never the whole concha should be extracted; there is a triangular or trapezoidal lower area called cavum of the concha, and another upper and longitudinal area called cymba, and both can be harvested without producing ear deformities, however in between those two areas there is the crus helix which is a powerful supporting pillar of the ear and a natural crease of the outer ear anatomy which must be preserved for aesthetic and structural reasons.

Patients warning: only highly experienced surgeons who have underwent optimal training and have performed already a large number of closed and open approach structure and non structure rhinoplasties should execute high end rhinoplasty cases, should they feel capable and comfortable with the challenge.