Tip grafts

Tip grafts are really what they say; they are grafts used on the nasal tip. The nasal tip is a difficult area, it is not an area for surgery for those who don’t have experience in the nose. I operate on a tip in most of my rhinoplasty’s. One of the things I’m really keen to achieve is that the tip looks good, not just in the operating theatre and in the early post-operative period, but it stays looking good in the long-term and tip grafts can really help with long-term security of a result.

How important is the experience

I often use them hidden in the tip, a bit like a supporting framework, which supports the tip in a place that I want it to be in and they don’t run the risk of showing abnormally through the skin. Tip grafts have got a bad name, but they usually go with the shield graft, a tip graft that is carved to sit on the end to the tip and if they’re used inappropriately they can show through the skin and a nose looks done.

So I’m very careful about using tip grafts, they are very useful but you’ve got to be very experienced if you use them. I’ll often use a tip graft as a very soft, fine piece of tissue, just to really fine tune the tip. But again you have to be very careful about how you use them and again, as we discussed previously with grafts I’ll only use your tissue. I’ll never put an artificial graft in the nose; they come out, they get infected and there is a higher risk, whereas your own tissue is much lower risk.

Presented by Julian Rowe-Jones, Top UK Rhinoplasty Surgeon

More about Julian Rowe-Jones

Julian Rowe-Jones founded The Nose Clinic in 1998 with a clear mission to deliver world leading standards of cosmetic nose surgery (Rhinoplasty) in Guildford, and now in Harley Street, London. His aim is to provide a level of friendly and professional consultancy, advice, support and patient care that complements and enhances these standards. His expertise as a rhinoplasty surgeon is central to the success of his patients; and you can read more about his background and experience here.

A Rhinoplasty Testimonial