[thedoc (OP)]

Doctors in China have grown a replacement nose on the forehead of a man injured in a car accident.

Read the whole story on our website by clicking here

  

[CliffordK]

Interesting technique, although they aren't "growing" a nose, but rather constructing one with plastic surgery techniques, just using forehead tissue as part of the process.

[chris]

You're right; it's actually pretty standard plastic surgery, although they are growing the nose because the skin that will cover it is being triggered to grow owing to the tension stimulus applied by the underlying nose "shape", which is stretching the skin.

[Super Hans]

Why was it grown on the forehead? Is it simply that the skull provides a more stable base or is there a different reason?

[CliffordK]

The forehead apparently gave a good stable place to build the nose. 

Thinking of my body, the forehead is one of the few places that grows no hair.  The thin hair from an arm, or leg would still look funny on the nose.  And, of course, if there are other differences in the skin, the forehead would still be a good match.

As mentioned in the article, the vascular supply to the forehead could be preserved when the nose is moved into place, and thus no new artery/vein connections need to be made.  perhaps even nerves would be preserved, although it may seem odd to if touching the nose is felt on the forehead.

A similar procedure is often done with breast reconstruction surgery in which a tummy flap is moved into the breast area, preserving the original vascular connections to the tissue being moved.