2026-05-24
Natural yet Glamorous Straight-Semi-Curved Line Using Autologous Rib Cartilage (+ Functional Rhinoplasty) - Dr. Young-moon Yoo, VIBE Plastic Surgery
A case study of a 20s female patient who achieved a balanced facial profile and improved breathing through rib cartilage rhinoplasty and forehead fat grafting.
* Basic Information
# Female in her 20s
# Medical History: Hiko (PDO thread) procedure several years ago (+)
# Main Complaints and Desired Improvements
- My face feels a bit long, so I want to compensate for that by adding three-dimensional volume to my face.
- I have lived with rhinitis since I was a child, so breathing has always been uncomfortable and stuffy.
* Consultation
# The patient visited us because the ‘Hiko’ procedure she received for her long, drooping nose tip did not resolve the issue.
# She also wanted to address the difficulty in breathing caused by rhinitis.
# Pre-operative CT scans confirmed a severe degree of curvature. We planned to correct this using ‘autologous rib cartilage’ along with functional rhinitis surgery.
# Since the face shape itself is on the longer side, we planned a forehead fat graft to complement the long facial appearance.
* Plan
# Long nose correction using autologous rib cartilage
# Functional rhinoplasty
# Forehead fat graft
* Intraoperative Findings
# During surgery, the Hiko threads and surrounding scar tissue were removed.
# Because the septum was severely deviated, we reconstructed a new septum using autologous rib cartilage. By improving the curved septum, the nasal congestion symptoms were also corrected.
* Post-operative Findings
# Autologous rib cartilage is usually harvested from the 6th or 7th rib. There is minor pain for about 2–3 days after harvesting. After about a week, recovery is sufficient to return to daily life without issues.
# When performing nose surgery, the functional aspect must always be considered. If you have discomfort breathing, resolve it together!
# The long face was balanced by providing three-dimensional volume through forehead fat grafting.
Consultations and surgeries should be performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon!
The VIBE that comes from rich experience.
Dr. Young-moon Yoo, Representative Director of VIBE Plastic Surgery
VIBE Plastic Surgery complies with medical laws. These before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions and with the patient’s consent. Complications and side effects such as bleeding, inflammation, infection, and asymmetry may occur after surgery and can vary by individual, so caution is required.