Ear cartilage and nasal septum cartilage are few in number and lack of support. Generally, it is only used to shape the tip of nose and columella, and combined with prosthesis to shape the back of nose for comprehensive rhinoplasty.
Costal cartilage has enough quantity and support, which can be used for total rhinoplasty, also called total autogenous cartilage rhinoplasty. It refers to a rhinoplasty operation with costal cartilage as the material from the tip of nose to the back of nose.