Recently,
the technology of rhinoplasty has rapidly advances.
From the earliest artificial nasal implant, rhinoplasty
has evolved into meticulous surgery with Korean style
rhinoplasty as one of the revolutionary breakthroughs
for rhinoplasty. Nevertheless, the nasal grafting materials
are somewhat limited by considering the long-term safety
and stability. Therefore, surgeons and consumers are
constantly looking forward to better and newer choice.
This year, the Department of Health has officially approved
Columella alloplastic nasal cartilage which integrates
the advantages of all traditional artificial materials.
Therefore, the application for this latest type of artificial
grafting material is worth the public attention.
The conventional rhinoplasty grafting
materials widely known by the public include the silicone
gel nasal cartilage and Gore-Tex. Although the insertion
and removal of silicone nasal implant is easy as well
as cost-effective, the incompatibility with the body
frequently causes high rate of infection and inflammation.
Furthermore, the silicone cartilage may calcify or decay
as time passed. Since the size and shape are uniformed,
the ability for customization is limited. Therefore,
unnatural appearance such as reflection may appear in
patients with short nose or thin skin, resulting in
the illusion of nose “crafted from the same mold”.
Since the pros and cons of Gore-Tex
are contrasted to silicone gel nasal bone, it is compatible
to the body and will firmly attach to the body. Therefore,
issues such as distortion and displacement of silicone
implant are hardly experienced with Gore-Tex. In addition,
it has a relatively low rate of inflammation and rejection.
Since Gore-Tex is soft and shapeable (it will only harden
after absorbing body water), surgeons can sculpture
the nasal shape according to personal preferences and
original nose shape. As Gore-Tex is a highly customizable
product, it is very suitable for candidates who desire
for an extreme makeover.
However, the con of Gore-Tex is its
expensive material. Furthermore, open incision is required
for grafting (as the material is soft, it cannot be
inserted through the inner nose). Since collocation
with the patients’ autologus cartilage is required,
the surgery involves a higher level of technique and
complexity. Therefore, only surgeons who have acquired
professional training can implement the surgery. Since
the material will integrate with the body, there are
different levels of absorption or shrinkage within the
post-operative adaptation period. In addition, the removal
of Gore-Tex is complicated. With the different pros
and cons from these two materials, will the new Columella
nasal implant be a better choice?
Dorsal Columella is a product developed
by a US company, Implantech. It is made of silicone
cartilage coated with a thin layer of Gore-Tex (approximately
0.5mm). This coated design has the following advantages:
|
| 1. |
It is easily implanted
as similar to silicone cartilage implant. Incision
techniques with inner nose or open incisions are
both practicable. |
| 2. |
Due to the Gore-Tex
coating, it is comparatively thicker than silicone
cartilage. After the nasal implant, exceedingly
thin nasal bridge or reflection can be avoided. |
| 3. |
As the coated Gore-Tex
will integrate with the body, chances of inflammation
or rejection are relatively lower than regular silicone
cartilage. |
| 4. |
As the inner layer
of silicone is a permanent material, the Gore-Tex
will not wither or be absorbed. |
| 5. |
Since only the
outer layer of Gore-Tex (but not the inner layer
of silicone) will contact with the human body, issues
of shrinkage or calcification with silicone cartilage
will not occur in the future. Additionally, there
is no distortion resulting from external pressure
or pressing. |
| 6. |
The material can
be easily removed through the inner nose. Therefore,
previous disadvantages including removal of Gore-Tex
and difficulty in adjustment are improved. |
|
