How to choose rhinoplasty material?

  Rhinoplasty has a history of more than 100 years and has used a variety of filling materials. Cosmetic rhinoplasty, if the equipment conditions are good, can mostly be performed in outpatient clinics, and the choice of materials should be convenient, not easily deformed or absorbed, moderately hard, biocompatible and histocompatible, non-toxic, non-irritating, non-carcinogenic, non-immunogenic, and easily removed intact when necessary, or tissue substitutes are the best. There are many kinds of materials reported for rhinoplasty, and there are no perfect filling materials yet: autologous rib cartilage, ear cartilage, autologous bone, autologous fascia, dermis, solid silicone rubber, liquid silicone, hydroxyapatite particle artificial bone, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), high-density polyethylene (medpore), etc. Allogeneic cartilage as well as freeze-dried bone and decalcified bone can also be used as rhinoplasty materials.  Clinical applications at home and abroad for decades have proved that solid medical silicone rubber is a more ideal filling material at present. Its physicochemical properties are stable, biocompatible, non-irritating and non-toxic to tissues after implantation, and will not cause deformation or cancer. The implanted silicone rubber will not be absorbed by tissues, and is also more flexible and elastic, with the same softness and hardness as the back of the nose, not easy to bend and deform, easy to sculpt and shape, and inexpensive, and therefore is widely used clinically. Complex rhinoplasty is still appropriate to use autologous bone or rib cartilage. Although there is no rejection of hydroxyapatite particles artificial bone, but it is not easy to raise the tip of the nose, so the tip of the nose is not high enough for the postoperative appearance, and in case it is necessary to remove is very difficult, so at present less used.  In recent years, ePTFE has been favored by the patients because of the material’s flexibility, the difficulty of piercing the skin when supporting the nasal tip, and the natural appearance of the nose after surgery, etc. However, it is more expensive and the long-term effect needs further follow-up observation. Liquid silicone rubber rhinoplasty can only slightly raise the bridge of the nose, and cannot form a perfect nasal shape, and in the process of use, if the curing is not complete, it may lead to serious consequences of skin necrosis, and complete removal is very difficult. Therefore, the use of such materials should be discarded to avoid endless consequences for the patient.