Use of the Autologous Membrane in Structured Rhinoplasty: An Alternative to Camouflaging and Filling

da S Neto MP, de S Almeida ÉC, da C C Tiveron LR, da Cunha MTR, Medeiros AG, Etchebehere RM.

PubMed 32983802 Publisher (DOI)Free full text (PMC)

What this paper says

In 23 patients, a membrane made from the patient's own blood (leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin), used alone in 4 and with diced cartilage in 19, filled dead space and camouflaged irregularities with no complications and patient-declared satisfaction.

Overview

Small irregularities of the dorsum, tip, soft triangle and keystone are usually camouflaged with fascia or crushed cartilage. The Brazilian authors centrifuged the patient's blood before surgery to produce an L-PRF membrane, separated it from the clot, and used it as a filler and camouflage layer in primary and revision rhinoplasties. Outcomes were clinical and photographic impressions and a patient questionnaire.

Sections of note

23 patients: 19 with L-PRF plus diced cartilage, 4 with L-PRF alone.
Uses: dorsal, tip, soft-triangle and keystone irregularities; dead-space filling; skin camouflage.
No immediate or late complications.
L-PRF was sufficient for camouflage and filling in all patients; all declared satisfaction.
The membrane is described as rich in factors that may aid tissue regeneration.

What it means for a patient

A camouflage layer can be made from your own blood drawn before surgery, avoiding a fascia harvest or donor material.
Evidence is a small series with subjective outcomes; durability is not measured.
It is one of several blood-derived products (PRP, PRF) entering rhinoplasty with limited data.

Why this paper matters

It is an early report of L-PRF as a nasal camouflage material. Limits: 23 patients, no controls, no objective measurements, follow-up unstated.

Terms

L-PRF: leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin, a clot-like membrane produced by centrifuging blood without additives.
Camouflage: placing material under the skin to hide irregularities.
Dead space: a gap between tissue layers where fluid or scar can collect.
Soft triangle: the thin skin fold at the nostril apex.
K zone (keystone): the junction of nasal bones and cartilages on the bridge.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-08; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

Abstract

Unlabelled: Rhinoplasty is one of the most challenging procedures in plastic surgery because the surgical modifications should attend to patient expectations and to the need for functional correction allied to aesthetics. Composed of leukocytes and platelet-rich fibrin, an autologous membrane has great potential for tissue repair. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of this membrane (associated or not associated with diced cartilage) as an alternative to techniques such as the camouflage and filling; correction of irregularities of the dorsum, nose tip, soft triangle, and K zone; filling in of dead space; skin camouflage; and an improvement in the healing process in primary or secondary rhinoplasties.

Methods: The membranes were obtained by centrifuging patients' peripheral blood before the rhinoplasty. At the time of use, the membrane was removed from the tube, separated from the clot, and used in the camouflage and filling process in patients operated on due to various indications: 19 associated with diced cartilage, and 4 sole. The authors present the clinical and photographic impressions of the immediate and late postoperative period, as well as the patients' opinions using a specific questionnaire.

Results: No patient had immediate or late postoperative complications. The use of leukocyte- and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) was sufficient to carry out the camouflage and filling in all patients, and the patient declared satisfaction.

Conclusions: This membrane was shown to be an excellent surgical alternative to the camouflage and filling in rhinoplasty. In addition, it is rich in factors that can improve and accelerate regeneration of tissues.

Abstract as indexed by PubMed; the article is open access (PubMed Central).