Prevention of Secondary Deformities at the Donor Site After Cartilage Transplantation

OBJECTIVE: To improve the auricular cartilage grafting technique used in rhinoplasty and reduce the incidence of secondary donor-site deformity. METHODS: From August 2020 to July 2022, 92 female patients aged 18 to 53 years underwent auricular cartilage transplantation for rhinoplasty. During the operation, 66 unilateral auricular cartilage grafts (49 on the left and 17 on the right) and 26 bilateral auricular cartilage grafts were obtained. Ear molds were made preoperatively. Donor cartilage was harvested from the concha cymba and/or concha cavum. Incisions were designed on the inside of the rim of the antihelix and/or antitragus in front of the ear, and auricular cartilage was harvested as needed. Ear molds were worn by all patients after the sutures were removed. Patients underwent follow-up for at least 6 months to assess donor-site auricular contour. RESULTS: During the healing period, incision scars were inconspicuous. At postoperative follow-up (6-18 mo after surgery), 45 patients had no deformity, 41 had mild deformity without cosmetic impact, and 6 had deformity not requiring revision. None developed severe deformity requiring surgical revision. CONCLUSION: By modifying incision placement and donor cartilage harvest sites, we optimized the auricular cartilage harvest technique to meet rhinoplasty requirements. Combined with appropriate postoperative care, this approach maximally preserves auricular contour and conceals incision scars.