This guide is for anyone looking to get rib cartilage rhinoplasty done in Korea.
Rib cartilage rhinoplasty is a complex nose procedure, that requires skills, that the Korean plastic surgery industry has to offer.
Whether you are just browsing or are already set on the surgery, this guide will have all the must-knows about rib cartilage rhinoplasty. We will cover things like:
- What is rib cartilage rhinoplasty
- Cost of rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea
- Recovery and results after rib cartilage rhinoplasty
- Top clinics for rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea
- Much, much more

This guide will give you information that will help you on your journey to a successful rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea.
Let’s begin by first covering what even is rib cartilage rhinoplasty:
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ToggleWhat Is Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty
Rib cartilage rhinoplasty or rib graft rhinoplasty is a type of nose job where your surgeon removes part of your rib cartilage and uses it to sculpt your nose.
It’s one of the more invasive and difficult rhinoplasties, but it can also produce the best-looking natural results.
Rib cartilage rhinoplasty is one of the most common full-nose reconstruction surgeries and can resolve many issues. A skilled surgeon can precisely sculpt and shape the rib graft to ensure the best possible results.
It’s a common procedure in patients, who struggle with a deviated septum, a collapsed or weaker nose tip, a flat nose, a deformed nose due to trauma, etc.
Rib cartilage nose jobs are also quite common surgeries for a revision Rhinoplasty.
Removal Of Rib Cartilage
The most common cartilage used for cartilage rhinoplasty is rib cartilage. You can also opt for ear cartilage, but most surgeons tend to use the rib one.
During the harvesting, a small incision is made under your breast line. It leaves a small scar, that you can hide well – especially if you are a woman.
Surgeons usually take cartilage from your 5th or 6th rib – more commonly the 6th one. Removing rib cartilage does not weaken your ribs, so don’t worry about it.
Only a small part of your cartilage is removed, so any discomfort, if done properly, is minimal during and after the surgery.
Rib cartilage tends to warp after removal, so a skilled surgeon must carefully shape and place it. Mishandling the graft can result in an awkward nose shape.
You can also use a donor rib cartilage to shorten the surgery time and discomfort. However, there is a risk of rejection in this case, so donor rib cartilage nose job is a much riskier procedure.
Recovery: Harvesting And Rhinoplasty
The recovery process for rib cartilage rhinoplasty is similar to that of a standard rhinoplasty – at least the nose part.
For the first few days after the surgery, you may experience pain, swelling, bruising, and some discomfort. This usually lasts 10 to 14 days.
Avoid strenuous exercise and touching your face for a few weeks. Try to sleep with your head slightly elevated.
You will get a splint and bandages, which stay on your face for about a week. On the same day, you will get stitches removed too.
As for your rib cartilage, it will grow back eventually, and the recovery is nothing special. Keep the incision site clean for a week and don’t put any direct pressure on it. You might have some pain or discomfort for a few weeks.
Full recovery after rib cartilage rhinoplasty usually takes 4-6 weeks, which is also when you can resume light to moderate exercise.
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions properly to ensure a safe and smooth recovery.
Results Expectations
You have to be patient when waiting for definite results to show after rib cartilage rhinoplasty.
It can take months for the final appearance of your nose to show. However, most patients notice a difference in their nose shape a few weeks after the procedure.
You will also regain the function of your nose fully within the first few weeks.
During months after surgery, your results will gradually start to show. Most patients see full results somewhere around the 12-month mark post-rib cartilage rhinoplasty.
Before And After
Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty In Korea
Rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea follows similar steps to the same procedure elsewhere.
Korean surgeons prefer using autologous rib cartilage for rhinoplasty. This means they use your rib cartilage, which significantly reduces risks.
This procedure takes about 3 hours in Korea. However, it can be longer or shorter depending on the complexity of your case.
General anesthesia is usually used for this procedure. You can leave either on the same day or the day after the surgery – depends on your condition.
You will get stitches and any bandages removed after 7 days. After that, you can leave Korea and continue your recovery at home.
However, we recommend you have at least one follow-up with the clinic that did your surgery. This is just so they can follow your progress and initial healing.
Most clinics offer online consultations even after the surgery. Make sure to ask at your initial consultation with the clinic about it.
Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty Cost In Korea
The average rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Seoul, Korea, costs between 12,000,000 KRW (= 9,000$) and 16,000,000 KRW (= 12,000$).
It’s one of the most expensive nose jobs and one of the more complex plastic surgeries. This is true for Korea and other popular plastic surgery destinations.
However, the good news is that Korea is one of the cheaper places for rib cartilage rhinoplasty. Plus, you don’t sacrifice quality for a low price. We’ll go over that in a second.
First, let’s see how much rib cartilage rhinoplasty costs elsewhere. You can expect to pay around:
- 21,700,000 KRW (= 16,000$) in the US
- 19.000,000 KRW (= 14,000$) in Australia
- 20,900,000 KRW (= 15,400$) in the UK
As you can see, rib cartilage rhinoplasty is at least 30% cheaper in Korea. Not only that, but Korean prices already include anesthesia fees, operating room fees, consultations, etc.
Nevertheless, you still have to remember that prices typically depend on many different factors, such as complexity, reputation, etc.
We have a full guide on the cost of nose jobs in Korea available. You can read more about factors influencing the price and even learn some great ways to save money.
Why Pick Korea For Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty
Korea is known as the plastic surgery capital of the world and has over 500 plastic surgery clinics in Seoul alone.
Because of that, many people fly to Korea every year for plastic surgery. This includes nose jobs since Korea is famous for its amazing rhinoplasty surgeons.
However, what actually makes it worth going to Korea for rib cartilage rhinoplasty? Are the prices and results that much better?
Let’s delve into this by comparing a few factors that tip the scale in Korea’s favor:
Cost
The first and one of the most important factors is the price of rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea.
Compared to other popular plastic surgery countries like the US, UK, and Australia, rib cartilage rhinoplasty is at least 30% cheaper in Korea.
The best thing is that you don’t sacrifice quality for low prices. Due to how much money is in the Korean plastic surgery industry, clinics can maintain quality and offer lower prices.
Korean clinics compete with each other for patients and to attract them, they offer very attractive and competitive prices. Deals and promotions are also something they use to attract foreigners.
Combine this with their experienced surgeons and high nose job success rates and Korea becomes an obvious pick. You can also get a tax refund on your surgery when leaving.
Top Surgeons
Korea has some of the best and most skilled plastic surgeons in the world. The best part is, that a big percentage focus on nose jobs.
Korean surgeons perform over 1,000,000 surgeries every year, and a lot are rhinoplasties. This amount alone speaks to their high skill and experience.
They also spend a lot of time developing techniques that minimize scarring, reduce downtimes, and improve results.
Not only that, but many Korean surgeons specialize in nose surgery. This makes it a perfect place for rib cartilage rhinoplasty, as you can quickly find a top surgeon.
Rib cartilage rhinoplasty is a complex procedure and you need a skilled and experience surgeon for the best results.
Rhinoplasty Success Rates
Looking at Western countries, the success rate for nose jobs is around 85%. This means, that out of 100 people, 15 are unhappy with results and need a revision.
Revision surgeries are expensive, difficult, and quite risky, so you want to do everything to avoid them.
Now in Korea, the success rates for Rhinoplasty are at a whopping 93%. Only 7 out of 100 are unhappy with the results. This is half the number in Western clinics.
In Western clinics, people are twice as likely to need revision surgery compared to Korean clinics.
Pair this high success rate with the affordable cost, and Korea becomes a clear choice for your rib cartilage rhinoplasty.
Top Rib Cartilage Rhinoplasty Clinics In Korea
As we already mentioned, there are over 500 plastic surgery clinics in Seoul, Korea. This can make your choice quite difficult and stressful.
It’s important to take time with this decision and not pick at random. In the end, it can mean the difference between good results and a botched surgery.
To help you with the hard part, we already came up with a few recommendations for rib cartilage rhinoplasty clinics in Seoul, Korea.
The clinics from our list are some of the clinics we verified by doing extensive research and can say that are a good pick for rib cartilage rhinoplasty.
So if you want to avoid a botched surgery, clinics from our list are good choices for any type of nose job.
Here are some of the things we look for in clinics and some tips you can use when researching:
Reviews
The first thing many people look at when researching clinics is reviews. These can contain lots of valuable information.
So for rib cartilage rhinoplasty, focus on reviews about nose jobs but don’t ignore other reviews too.
Now the bad thing about reviews in the Korean plastic surgery industry is that clinics sometimes use fake reviews to attract patients. They offer discounts if you write positive reviews.
This doesn’t mean that the person who wrote the review outright lied, but they may ”over-hype” their experience with the clinic making it sound too good to be true.
Be careful when going over reviews and look at both positive and negative ones. Look for as much information as possible in as many reviews as you can find.
Some good sites for reviews are Google Reviews, WhatClinic, PurseForum, Reddit, UNNI App, etc.
Specialization
The second important thing to look at when researching clinics is the specialization.
The best clinics for rib cartilage rhinoplasty are those specializing in nose surgery or those who have specialized nose surgeons working there.
Another way to figure out if a clinic is truly specialized in nose jobs is to look at their track record, reviews, and facilities.
Clinics with lots of reviews about nose jobs, a good track record with them, and proper facilities, are the best choices for your rib cartilage rhinoplasty.
Rhinoplasty is one of the more popular procedures in Korea, so you should have no trouble finding clinics specializing in nose jobs.
Consultations
Lastly, it’s important to have an initial consultation before booking the procedure with the clinic.
The majority of Korean clinics offer consultations before booking. This way they can assess your nose, recommend procedures, and give you a quote.
When researching, make a list of clinics that you like and then book consultations with every clinic before selecting one. You can do most consults online or by simply sending photos over email.
This way you can learn about pricing, how responsive and attentive they are, etc. You can even get some good recommendations for additional procedures to enhance your results.
If a clinic offers consultations before booking with them, then you should consider a consultation with the clinic. Do this with more clinics and you can get a better and more clear picture about them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea is a great choice for different reasons.
To start, nose jobs are very affordable in Korea yet still done at a top level. Their highly skilled surgeons with lots of experience will do an amazing job on your nose.
On top of that, success rates for nose jobs in Korean clinics are one of the best. You are less likely to need revision surgery if you have rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea compared to Western clinics.
Lastly, since there are so many clinics in Korea, it’s important to make an informed decision. Remember to check out our list of recommended rib cartilage rhinoplasty clinics in Seoul, Korea.
Now that you read this guide you know everything you need on your journey to rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Korea.
If you have any questions about rib cartilage rhinoplasty or any general inquiries, feel free to write to us at info@seoul.clinic. You can expect an answer from us within 48 hours.
FAQ
How much does rib cartilage rhinoplasty cost in Korea?
The average rib cartilage rhinoplasty in Seoul, Korea, costs between 12,000,000 KRW (= 9,000$) and 16,000,000 KRW (= 12,000$).
It’s one of the most expensive nose jobs and one of the more complex plastic surgeries. However, the actual price varies based on lots of different factors, so keep that in mind.
Is it safe to use rib cartilage for rhinoplasty?
Rib cartilage is one of the safest and best options for rhinoplasty and for revision nose jobs. Since rib cartilage is taken from your body, there is a limited risk of rejection.
A skilled surgeon can shape it easily and because of its strength, it can maintain its shape well, which is important because of the function and look of your nose.
How long does rib cartilage rhinoplasty last?
Results from rib cartilage rhinoplasty are permanent and won’t go away over time. This is one of the perks of using rib cartilage as a graft for rhinoplasty.
Maintain a healthy diet and you should notice no significant changes to the structure of your nose or the surrounding area.