Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Question:
How does the African American nose differ from other noses?

Answer:
For many years, the "ideal nose" in rhinoplasty was based on the Greco-Roman, Caucasian model.  Recently, studies of the aesthetics of the African-American face have suggested important differences between the traditional "European" aesthetic ideals and the ideals for the beautiful African-American face.

There are some broad generalizations that can be made about a patient's nose based on his or her ethnicity:
The African-American nose is characterized by thick skin with abundant fibrofatty tissue; a low, wide and flat nasal bridge with short nasal bones, and a broad, bulbous, thick-skinned, nasal tip.

The African-American nose is generally flat, broad and short. The nasal tip tends to be rounded and poorly defined. There tends to be less projection than is desired. The decrease in nasal projection tends to be exaggerated by a prominent or protruding upper lip.

While it is convenient to generalize about characteristics of the noses of various ethnic groups, it is important not to place too much emphasis or focus on this. While there are stereotypes about the typical "Italian" nose, the typical "Jewish nose," the typical Asian nose, and so forth, in my practice I have seen many Asians with a so-called "Caucasian nose," and vice versa. I have seen enough exceptions to the rule that I no longer spend so much energy focused on the rule!

So, I prefer to talk about the thick-skinned nose, the wide nose, the flat nose. The treatment of these problems is the same regardless of race, religion or creed!