Rhinoplasty in patients of African, South Asian or East Asian origin

Rhinoplasty or nose reshaping is widely regarded as one of the most complex cosmetic surgical procedures.  The surgeon must have sound surgical skills, a detailed knowledge of anatomy, and a wide range of techniques to treat various deformities. In addition to all these skills, a sense of artistry is needed to combine everything into a balanced aesthetic nose.  Balance. Harmony. Proportion. These are the fundamentals of good rhinoplasty surgery. The nose of a patient of African, South Asian, or East Asian origin poses unique challenges to gain a superior result.  Many of the analytic tools used to assess a Caucasian nose are not always useful. 

Typically the alar width (base of the nose) is wider resulting in a different shape to the ala and a wider tip. The nasal dorsum may not be a high as a Caucasian nose. The skin is generally thicker, and different techniques may be necessary to effect changes in the shape of the nose. These are just a few of the differences that must be clearly understood by the surgeon to achieve a superior result. The surgeon must completely understand this type of rhinoplasty and how to use the inherent characteristics of that particular patient and shape of the nose to advantage.

It is best to choose a surgeon with extensive experience with this type of rhinoplasty. If such a surgeon is not available in your community, it may be best to search for a surgeon with these skills.  Asking the surgeon to show you some of his patient results is the easiest way to determine his experience with this type of complex surgery.