SERVICE 04 / NOSE

Autologous

Rhinoplasty

Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty

AUTOLOGOUS RHINOPLASTY

Using autologous cartilage and autologous tissue instead of artificial implants,
we plan a natural, stable nasal line.

Method: Autologous cartilage + autologous dermis
Anesthesia: IV sedation or general anesthesia
Recovery: Swelling about 2 weeks · Stabilization 6-12 months; Summary Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty shapes the nose with autologous cartilage and dermis instead of artificial implants such as silicone. It carries less concern about foreign body reaction and prioritizes long-term stability. The harvest site and the shape are planned together, and surgery is performed at RESUM Plastic Surgery in Gangnam (Apgujeong), Seoul. Medical Review Medical Review: Won-Suk Kook,Jin-Young Kim
Last updated: 2026-06-30

Why Lisoom

Overview With the Patient's Own Tissue

The result of rhinoplasty is judged at two stages: right after surgery, and once the nose has settled over time. Artificial implants (silicone, Gore-Tex) are quick for creating the initial shape and good for achieving a consistent form, but they have the limitation of carrying variables over time, such as capsule formation, contracture, show-through, and displacement. Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty is care whose purpose is to reduce these variables themselves.

The autologous tissue used is the patient's own septal cartilage, ear (auricular) cartilage, costal (rib) cartilage, autologous dermis or dermal fat, and temporalis fascia. Because it is your own tissue, the risk of foreign body reaction is low, and it is reported to settle together with the surrounding tissue over time, with relatively high long-term stability. However, the harvest site needs its own recovery, and the range of shapes that can be created is limited by the amount that can be harvested, so prior evaluation is important.

At the consultation stage, RESUM Plastic Surgery evaluates the patient's bone structure, the amount of tissue available, and the range of the desired shape together, and then decides in advance which tissue to use where. In cases where autologous tissue alone has limits, a combination of autologous tissue and an implant is also considered, and we do not recommend excessive harvesting of autologous tissue. Case judgment accumulated over 32 years of clinical practice is the basis for deciding the harvest site and the amount used.

Autologous Profile

Before & After

Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty Before & After

Before surgery After surgery

Complications such as bleeding, infection and inflammation may occur depending on the individual, so caution is needed.
Results may vary by individual. Please confirm the method and expected results that suit you through a consultation.

View More Similar Cases 463

TISSUE OPTIONS

Methods
Types of Autologous Tissue and How They Work

Septal Cartilage

This cartilage supports the center of the nasal cavity. Thin yet firm, it is the first-choice material for nasal tip support (septal extension graft, columellar strut, spreader graft). Because it is harvested from inside the nose, no external scar is left, and when a septal deviation is present, correction and harvest can be done in the same step. However, the amount that can be harvested is limited, and it may be difficult to use if you have had previous septal surgery, so prior evaluation is needed.

Internal Support With Septal Correction No External Scar

Ear Cartilage

Harvested from behind the ear, this cartilage is soft and curved, making it suitable for fine shaping of areas such as the tip and alae. Harvest is relatively simple and the recovery burden is low, and harvesting from both ears yields a larger amount, so it is often used in cases that need tip reinforcement. Because of its curvature, it has limits for dorsal support, which requires structural strength, so it is combined with other materials when dorsal augmentation is needed.

Tip & Alae Recovery Burden ↓ Natural Curvature

Costal (Rib) Cartilage COSTAL guide image

Costal CartilageCostal (Rib) Cartilage

Harvested from the 6th-7th costal cartilages of the chest, it provides ample volume and strength and is the material considered first for dorsal augmentation or structural reconstruction in revision surgery. It plays a central role in cases that need major change or extensive reconstruction, cases where septal cartilage is insufficient, and contracted nose correction. However, the harvest site requires a separate recovery of 1-3 weeks, and warping of the cartilage has been reported, so technical precision is required in how it is carved and layered.

Ample Volume Dorsal Augmentation Suited to Revision

Autologous Dermis & Dermal Fat DERMAL guide image

Dermal FatAutologous Dermis & Dermal Fat

Dermis and some fat are harvested from a site where the scar is not easily seen, such as the upper buttock or the groin. It is used as a supplementary material in cases where thin dorsal skin lets the implant outline show through, cases where skin thickness has been lost to contracture, and cases that need soft tissue reinforcement. Temporalis fascia can also be used for the same purpose; it is laid over the graft to soften the contour.

Skin Thickness Support Show-Through ↓ Soft Tissue Reinforcement

OUR PRINCIPLE

Core Values
The Principles RESUM Keeps

The value of Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty does not lie in the phrase "implant-free" itself. The key is that it keeps variables low even as time passes. At the same time, a reasonable choice also takes into account that it comes with harvest-site recovery and limits on the shapes that are possible.

Tissue
Friendly

BIOCOMPATIBLE Tissue Compatibility

Your own tissue is recognized immunologically as self, so the risk of foreign body reaction or chronic inflammation is relatively low, and over time blood vessels form with the surrounding tissue and it settles together with it. The variables of capsule formation and contracture reported in implant-based reconstruction are rarely involved, which tends to favor long-term stability. However, some partial resorption or deformation has also been reported with autologous cartilage, and this is explained in advance during consultation.

Tailored
Selection

PERSONAL Tissue-Specific Use

Each tissue has a role it suits: septal cartilage for tip support, ear cartilage for fine shaping of the tip and alae, costal (rib) cartilage for the dorsum and extensive reconstruction, and dermis for soft tissue reinforcement. RESUM looks at the patient's bone structure, the amount of tissue available, and the range of the desired shape, and decides in advance which tissue to use where. In cases where costal cartilage harvest would be too much of a burden, we consider what is possible with a combination of septal and ear cartilage.

Honest
Limits

REALISTIC Honest Guidance

Autologous tissue is not a cure-all. In cases where the dorsum needs to be raised substantially or there is not enough tissue available, a combined plan can be more reasonable than insisting on autologous tissue alone, so RESUM explains the limits and the achievable range honestly. Depending on the case, a combination of autologous tissue and an implant is also considered, and this is decided during consultation.

Lisoom Channel

Watch & Learn.

Likes video

Is Your Nasal Tip Lifting and Hardening? Signs That a Contracted Nose Is Starting and Principles of Revision Surgery

Why did Michael Jackson's nose become shorter and more upturned over time, and eventually change greatly in shape? Many people simply think it was "because of too much plastic surgery," but from the perspective of nasal reconstruction, it is a case that can serve as a reference for understanding how a contracted nose can progress after repeated nose surgeries. Over more than 30 years of nose surgery and reconstruction…

NOTICE

Precautions
Pre- & Post-Op Guide

N · 01 The autologous tissue harvest site needs time to recover (this may be longer when ear or rib cartilage is harvested).

N · 02 Swelling subsides in 2 weeks, and stabilization takes place over 6-12 months.

N · 03 Refrain from alcohol and smoking for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

N · 04 The extent of the result varies with the amount of tissue available and your bone structure.

N · 05 In cases of active infection, autoimmune disease, or pregnancy, eligibility for surgery is evaluated separately.

N · 06 Results may vary depending on individual constitution and surgical conditions, so please be sure to consult a board-certified specialist before surgery.

PROCEDURE DATA

Summary
Surgery Information

Harvesting and carving of autologous tissue and reconstruction of the nose take place in a single flow. The harvest site requires a separate recovery of about 1-3 weeks, and in cases of costal (rib) cartilage harvest, pain may occur when breathing or coughing, so your schedule needs to be adjusted. The possibility of partial resorption of autologous cartilage varies with the harvest site and how the cartilage is carved, and is explained case by case during consultation.

Procedure

Surgery Information

Surgery time: About 2-3 hours
Anesthesia: IV sedation
Recovery: About 1 week
Hospital stay: No hospital stay required
Suture removal: After about 1 week

With costal (rib) cartilage harvest, the chest incision needs an additional 1-3 weeks of recovery

FOR WHOM

Candidates

Consider a Consultation If

05 Recommended Cases

01 You are concerned about the long-term side effects of artificial implants (contracture, displacement, show-through) and prioritize the stability of an autologous tissue-based approach

02 You experienced implant-related side effects after a previous nose surgery and need reconstruction centered on autologous tissue

03 You need structural reconstruction in a revision setting and a sufficient amount of autologous cartilage must be used

04 This is your first rhinoplasty, but you want planning centered on autologous tissue that prioritizes long-term settling from the start

05 You have a septal deviation, so septal correction and autologous cartilage harvest can be done in a single step

Won-Suk Kook · M.D. - RESUM Plastic Surgery Clinic

Doctor's Note

The key to autologous tissue rhinoplasty is not avoiding implants in itself, but using your own tissue to create an environment in which long-term stability is possible. Septal, ear, and costal (rib) cartilage each differ in strength and workability, so they need to be used differently for the dorsum, the tip, and the columella. The amount harvested and where it is used are decided during consultation, based on your bone structure and skin thickness.

Won-Suk Kook · M.D.

Dr. Won-Suk Kook, Chief Director, RESUM Plastic Surgery

PROCEDURE FLOW

Process
Surgical Steps

PHASE I

Diagnosis & Planning

We evaluate facial proportions, the condition of the nose, and the amount of autologous tissue available.

CONSULT

PHASE II

Autologous Tissue Harvest

The planned amount is harvested from the sites needed (ear, septum, rib).

HARVEST

PHASE III

Nasal Reconstruction

Shape and structure are reconstructed with the harvested tissue. When needed, autologous dermis is used to add thickness.

REBUILD

PHASE IV

Aftercare

Swelling and the settling stages are evaluated at set time points.

CARE

FREQUENTLY ASKED

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

We have compiled the questions patients ask most often before a consultation.

Q · 01 What kind of surgery is Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty?

It is a rhinoplasty that reconstructs the nose without artificial implants, using the patient's own autologous cartilage (septal, ear, costal) and autologous dermis or dermal fat. Techniques such as a septal extension graft, a columellar strut, dorsal layering, and dermal reinforcement are combined to build shape and support. By using your own tissue, the approach prioritizes tissue compatibility and long-term stability.

Q · 02 Cartilage from which areas is used?

Septal cartilage, ear cartilage, and costal (rib) cartilage are mainly used. Septal cartilage is used first for nasal tip support, ear cartilage is suited to the fine shaping of the tip and alae, and costal cartilage provides strength for dorsal augmentation and reconstruction. Autologous dermis and temporalis fascia are used as supplementary materials for soft tissue reinforcement, and the harvest sites and combination are decided during consultation.

Q · 03 Can autologous tissue alone give enough dorsal height?

Ear cartilage alone is often limited for dorsal augmentation, so cases that need dorsal augmentation also use septal or costal (rib) cartilage. When substantial height is needed, stacked costal cartilage discs or a carved single block are considered, and the harvest site is decided by the amount available and the line you want.

Q · 04 How long does the surgery take, and what anesthesia is used?

Surgery takes about 2-3.5 hours, depending on the harvest site and the extent of reconstruction. Cases using only septal and ear cartilage are shorter, and surgery takes longer when costal (rib) cartilage is harvested. It is performed under IV sedation or general anesthesia; when costal cartilage is harvested, general anesthesia is typical.

Q · 05 Can autologous tissue and an implant be used together?

Yes. A combination is often used in which an implant (silicone or Gore-Tex) creates height on the dorsum and autologous cartilage builds the support structure of the tip. It can be a reasonable choice when there is not enough autologous tissue available or when substantial height is needed, and it is decided during consultation.

Q · 06 I'm hesitant about costal (rib) cartilage harvest. Are there other options?

Depending on your condition, surgery can sometimes be performed with a combination of septal and ear cartilage, which suits cases where the extent of dorsal augmentation is not large. For major changes or in a revision setting, costal (rib) cartilage tends to be advantageous, so the pros and cons of each option are explained during consultation.

Q · 01 Can autologous tissue be resorbed or change shape?

Some degree of resorption and deformation has been reported with autologous cartilage, and the pattern varies with the harvest site, how the cartilage is carved, and where it is placed. Septal and ear cartilage are relatively stable, while warping has been reported with costal (rib) cartilage depending on how it is carved, so technical precision is required. This is explained case by case during consultation.

Q · 01 How long is the recovery period?

External swelling subsides in about 2 weeks, and residual swelling stabilizes slowly over 6-12 months. Recovery of the harvest site should be considered separately: about 1-2 weeks for the ear and about 2-3 weeks for costal (rib) cartilage harvest is typical. Your recovery schedule is explained during consultation to fit your daily life.

Q · 01 What side effects may occur?

Mild swelling and pain at the autologous tissue harvest site may last 1-3 weeks. Because the surgery uses your own tissue, the risk of foreign body reaction is relatively low. Other known possibilities include infection, asymmetry, and partial resorption or deformation of autologous cartilage, which are explained in advance during consultation. In cases of costal (rib) cartilage harvest, there is a rare risk of pneumothorax, so technical precision is required.

Q · 01 How much does Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty cost?

Cost varies with the harvest site, the amount of tissue used, and whether additional procedures (septal correction, tip reconstruction, dermal reinforcement) are included. The exact cost is provided after a consultation, based on your condition.

CONSULTATION

Consultation
Need a Consultation?

A nose built with autologous tissue, without artificial implants. The harvest site and extent of use are decided during consultation to suit the patient's condition.

KAKAO

Autologous Tissue Rhinoplasty

Overview With the Patient's Own Tissue

Before & After