What are grafts and how are they used?
Grafts are strips of cartilage, bone or foreign material (e.g. Gortex) that are placed in order to help recontour the nose or aid in supporting the nasal skeleton. Cartilage (the most commonly used material) is usually harvested from within the nose as part of the already planned operation and no additional cuts are necessary. It is occasionally necessary, however, to look elsewhere for more cartilage (typically, in revision surgery). In these cases, cartilage can be taken from the ear through an incision made on the back side (this does not disfigure or scar the ear). At the Toronto Rhinoplasty Clinic, we do not favour the use of foreign materials as these have a propensity for infection and extrusion.
