Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Question:
Do you often combine a chin implant with African American rhinoplasty?

Answer:
I do not.  Most commonly, patients who seek rhinoplasty are unhappy with their nose, but not their chin. When a chin implant might make a patient’s face more balanced, we certainly do point this out. However, we have found that most patients who have not already expressed an interest in a chin implant typically choose not to have an implant. In fact, we have removed a number of chin implants in patients who had them placed elsewhere and decided they did not like them – either because of the way they look or the way they feel. Sometimes, these artificial implants get infected and require removal too.

The patients whom I have seen requesting “ethnic rhinoplasty” have generally shown little interest in chin implants.  I believe this relates to their interest in preserving their ethnic identity and their ethnic appearance.

For many years, the "ideal nose" and “ ideal face” in rhinoplasties and facial plastic surgeries performed in the United States and Europe was based on the Greco-Roman, Caucasian model. Of course, in Asia, in Africa, is South America, and elsewhere, there has long been an understanding of important differences between the traditional "European" aesthetic ideals and the ideals for the beautiful “ethnic” face and nose. 

My approach to ethnic rhinoplasty is the same as my approach to all rhinoplasties – to listen carefully to the patient’s concerns, to listen to what the patient does not like about their nose. Then, I add my expertise and advise, and we work together to arrive at a sound surgical plan. The goal of any rhinoplasty should be a nose that is  harmonious with the face it belongs to, and a face that preserves the important sense of ethnic identity!