Tissue Engineering for Rhinoplasty

Tissue engineering is a rapidly evolving field of research, and its impact on clinical health care solutions can be profound. It offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between basic science and the application of a tissue-engineered cartilage product for patients undergoing primary and revision rhinoplasty. Autologous tissue-engineered septal cartilage can be fabricated from a small sample of septal cartilage taken from a patient. This tissue-engineered product would eventually provide the surgeon with adequate grafting material with which to complete a rhinoplasty or nasal reconstructive case without the known limitations of tissue availability and tissue quantity. An update on this technology is presented as it relates to our field.