Education
Revision Rhinoplasty After Implant, Gore-Tex, Silicone, or Graft Failure
Revision rhinoplasty after a nasal implant or graft problem — why silicone, Gore-Tex, or Medpor can fail, how the nose is evaluated, and how support is reconstructed.
ABFPRS
Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
ABOto
Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery
AAFPRS
Fellowship Director
Overview
Nasal implants and grafts can sometimes become infected, visible, displaced, or poorly integrated. When that happens, revision focuses on identifying exactly what is present and rebuilding safe, durable support — often with the patient's own cartilage.
Medically reviewed by Moustafa Mourad, MD, FACS — dual board-certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon and Otolaryngologist (Head & Neck Surgery).
Last reviewed: June 2026
Key takeaways
- Implants and grafts can become infected, visible, displaced, resorbed, or extruded.
- Silicone, Gore-Tex, Medpor, and various cartilage grafts each behave differently.
- Evaluation may use operative reports, old photos, exam, endoscopy, and sometimes imaging.
- If a prior implant no longer provides safe support, reconstruction may use autologous cartilage.
- These cases can be complex, and staged planning is sometimes needed.
An Established Academic Authority
Double board certification. Fellowship director. Published author. A surgeon's surgeon.
ABFPRS
Board Certified
American Board of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
ABOto
Board Certified
American Board of Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery
AAFPRS
Fellowship Director
American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Textbook
Published Author
Contributions to the academic literature of facial plastic surgery
Dual board certification in both Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery.
Castle Connolly Top Doctor — Plastic Surgery, 2026Why implants or grafts sometimes fail
Prior nasal implants or grafts may become infected, visible, displaced, resorbed, extruded, or poorly integrated. Some patients develop skin thinning, contour irregularity, collapse, or persistent breathing obstruction. When any of these occur, revision is directed at understanding the cause before deciding what to do.
Common materials and how they differ
The materials involved behave differently, which shapes the plan:
- Silicone and Gore-Tex — synthetic implants that can sometimes displace, become infected, or extrude
- Medpor — a porous synthetic implant that integrates with tissue and can be more involved to remove
- Cadaveric and septal, ear, or rib cartilage — biologic grafts that vary in resorption and warping behavior
For a comparison of biologic graft options used in reconstruction, see cadaver rib vs autologous rib rhinoplasty.
Evaluation
Evaluation may require prior operative reports, old photographs, a thorough examination, nasal endoscopy, and sometimes imaging. The surgeon must identify what material is present, and its condition, before deciding whether to remove, replace, or support it.
Reconstruction
If a prior implant or graft no longer provides safe support, reconstruction may require autologous cartilage — often rib cartilage in major cases — to rebuild a stable framework. Functional concerns such as nasal valve collapse are addressed at the same time when present.
Counseling and realistic goals
Revision after an implant or graft complication can be complex. Goals should be realistic, and staged planning may be needed when tissue is thin, scarred, or infected. The revision rhinoplasty page covers the overall approach, and you can schedule a consultation to have your specific situation evaluated.
Frequently Asked
Revision Rhinoplasty After Implant, Gore-Tex, Silicone, or Graft Failure — patient questions, honestly answered.
Synthetic implants can displace, become infected, extrude, or cause skin thinning and contour irregularity over time. When this happens, patients may notice visibility, asymmetry, or breathing problems. Revision addresses what is present and rebuilds safe support.
Not always, and it is decided after evaluation. The surgeon first identifies what material is present and its condition using operative reports, examination, endoscopy, and sometimes imaging, then decides whether to remove, replace, or support it based on whether it is providing safe, stable support.
When a prior implant or graft no longer provides safe support, reconstruction often uses the patient's own cartilage — septal, ear, or, in major cases, rib cartilage — to rebuild a stable framework. The choice depends on how much support is needed.
Sometimes. When tissue is thin, scarred, or infected, staged planning may be safer than attempting everything at once. Whether a staged approach is needed is determined during evaluation and discussed with you in advance.
Continue exploring
Continue reading
Revision Rhinoplasty
Correcting prior nasal surgery and rebuilding support.
Rib Cartilage Revision Rhinoplasty
Rebuilding structure with the patient's own cartilage.
Cadaver Rib vs Autologous Rib
Comparing biologic graft sources.
Nasal Valve Collapse Treatment
Addressing breathing problems during reconstruction.
Schedule a consultation
Have your implant or graft situation evaluated.
Next step
Plans are individualized. The consultation is where that begins.
Reach the Manhattan office to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mourad.