FAQ
Posted on   2009-12-09 10:12:02

Frequently asked questions about ethnic, revision, rhinoplasty,

How do we preserve ethnic identity?

As a rhinoplasty surgeon, I now encourage my facial plastic surgery residents to create a balanced aesthetic outcome that preserves one’s ethnic identity.  The surgeon must be familiar with the variations in facial and nasal anatomy, listen to the patient’s needs, and have a goal of reducing outstanding nasal features during the procedure.  Other important factors include the length of time that a person has lived in the United States and the level of assimilation.

Within certain cultures, the desired patient aesthetics is different depending on what country the patient has immigrated from.  We do not want to box the patient into a generic “ethnic rhinoplasty” category.  The aesthetic appearance of the nose must be in tune with the patient’s original racial features to achieve harmony

In my practice over the past several years there have been various trends that have affected the concerns of non-Caucasians who seek nasal reshaping. These include:

1. Ashley Simpson: The well accepted transformation of Ashley Simpson after her rhinoplasty has increased the desire to avoid creating a ski slope appearance in Middle-Eastern and Hispanic patients.
2. Michael Jackson has significantly affected the African-American patient population to avoid over-aggressive westernized nasal appearance.  Most patients desire subtle changes in order to preserve natural ethnic appearance.
3. Asian population generally desires a more westernized nose.
4. Middle-Eastern patient population uniformly wants northern European aesthetics.  They no longer mind strong nasal profiles.
5. Hispanic patient population generally want noses that look finer and thinner but not necessarily bigger.
6. Non-caucasians who present for revision rhinoplasty generally feel that they have lost their ethnic identity after primary rhinoplasty due to over-resected profile (ski slope appearance known as saddle nose deformity) and over-narrowed tip cartilages (pinched tip).
   In conclusion, creating an ethnically appropriate nasal feature is paramount in performing rhinoplasty in non-Caucasians.  Special care must be taken to discuss these issues at length during the consultation process.
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