Grafts and implants in rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction

The quest for nasal symmetry and balance with the face often mandates the n eed for implantable materials to sculpt and rebuild the nasal skeleton and the overlying tissues. A suitable implant must be biocompatible, strong, an d elastic. Implant materials that may be used in the nose can be divided in to four groups: autografts, homografts, xenografts, and alloplasts. Each ty pe of implant is reviewed and discussed in the context of rhinoplasty and n asal reconstruction.