OUR EXPERIENCE WITH SILICONE IN RHINOMENTOPLASTY

Based on a review of the literature and our own experience, we propose criteria for the site of implantation that, in our eyes, is suitable for a silicon implant or a cartilage transplant. Special interest is f ocused on rhinoplasty and chin augmentation, as both determine the fac ial profile of the patient. During the last 17 years we have treated 4 43 patients with augmentation rhinoplasty, of whom 360 received autolo gous ear cartilage grafts and 83 received autologous rib cartilage gra fts. At the same time we saw 30 patients requiring removal of artifici al implant materials that were used by other surgeons for rhinoplasty augmentation purposes. Since 1986 we have performed 60 chin augmentati ons with anatomically shaped silicone implants (McGhan), of which 40 p atients had a combined rhinomentoplasty done.