Augmentation Rhinoplasty with Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene: A Ten-Year Experience for Safety

Background and Objectives Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is an alloplastic implant widely used in augmentation rhinoplasty. However, ePTFE implant is known to be vulnerable to postoperative infection and inflammation. We aimed to verify the safety of the material by analyzing the results of augmentation rhinoplasty using ePTFE carried out in a single institution for 10 years. Subjects and Method From April 2009 to June 2018, 238 patients who underwent augmentation rhinoplasty with ePTFE were included in the study. There were 187 male patients and 51 female patients. Patients medical records, preoperative and postoperative photographs were analyzed, and postoperative implant migration, inflammation, and infection were investigated. Results Of the 238 patients, 10 underwent revision surgery, and 87 (36.6%) underwent concomitant osteotomy for the correction of the deviated nose. Of the 5 patients (2.1%) who showed postoperative implant migration, 4 patients belonged to the osteotomy patients group while 1 patient belonged to the no-osteotomy group. There was more frequent implant migration in patients who underwent osteotomy; however, there was no statistically significant difference (p=0.06). In all of the five patients, the degree of implant migration was minimal, therefore no patient required revision surgery. No inflammatory reaction or infection was found after surgery. Conclusion ePTFE is a safe material for augmentation rhinoplasty and is not susceptible to infection after surgery if used through appropriate surgical procedures.