Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 7/4/2008

Question
I'm considering getting a rhinoplasty and my plastic surgeon mentioned that he will need to get costal cartilages from my 6th and 7th ribs (from what i understand the ribs will become disconnected from the sternum).  

Do you think the surgery could possibly affect my athletic ability?  Like would I be able to continue doing 200+lbs squats and 150+lbs bench press.  Lastly, what's exactly the role of costal cartilage in our body?

Answer
The role of the cartilage is to connect the ribs to the sternum, kind of a necessary body part in my opinion.  It very well may affect your athletic abilities, as the pecs are tied directly to the the sternum and ribs, and during squats, your arms, in order to steady the bar on the shoulders, need stabilization by, in part, the pectoral muscles.  If the rhinoplasty is purely cosmetic, if you don't want to affect your lifting abilities, I would see what other options you have as far as cartilage harvesting.