Today, ethnic rhinoplasty, better known as an ethnic nose job, is a subset of primary rhinoplasty. It is specially tailored for not Caucasian patients.
This cosmetic surgery is enjoying a rise in popularity and has advanced in the last years.
Indeed, if you are Hispanic, African American, Asian, or Indian and considering rhinoplasty surgery, you require special rhinoplasty techniques to achieve natural results.
After all, the nose is the central feature of the face and can greatly impact the facial profile and overall proportions! Also, it can be an instant boost in self-esteem or a direct punch to the guts.
Even though your nose may be flat, too small, or asymmetrical, the main goal is to retain your ethnic identity. The “European” nose is no longer the perfect standard for beauty.
Hence, ethnic rhinoplasty can be a real challenge and demands a unique approach. That’s why you must choose facial plastic surgeons specialized in this type of surgery.
At the end of the day, the best nose will be specially tailored for you. It will match the rest of your facial features and enhance your overall appearance.
After all, you don’t want to end up with a “borrowed nose” that may look beautiful on a celebrity but slightly off on you.
An ethnic nose job represents a life-changing procedure meant to celebrate your ethnicity, not hide it! So, prepare to get all the details about this procedure before taking the plunge.
Medically reviewed by Dr Osama Bahsas Zaky
Written by Joaquín Pineda
Updated on September 7, 2021
What Is An Ethnic Rhinoplasty Surgery?
The Goal of Ethnic Nose Surgery.
The Best Candidates for Ethnic Rhinoplasty.
The term ethnic rhinoplasty refers to any nose surgery performed on ethnic or non-Caucasian patients.
It includes African-Americans, Asians, Middle Eastern or Caribbean people. These different ethnicities have specific facial features. So, the methods need to fit all of them.
Much like a primary nose job, ethnic rhinoplasty is meant to reshape the nose and ensure it is proportional to the rest of the face. Also, it may correct structural problems and improve breathing by unblocking nasal passages.
However, this plastic surgery also needs to highlight your natural ethnic traits paying close attention to the differences in skin, tissues, and other facial features. This demands surgical skills, precision, and a good eye!
Ethnic rhinoplasty is incredibly challenging because there isn’t a “one surgery fits all” approach. What may look beautiful and natural for one ethnicity may look less than flattering to another.
Ethnic rhinoplasty aims to enhance the appearance of the nose subtly, creating a natural result in harmony with the heritage of your face.
You should in no way sacrifice the unique facial features linked to your ethnic group background!
Hence, ethnic nose surgery requires tailoring each procedure to the patient. It entails different techniques and skills. So, it is essentially a customized nose job treatment.
This includes considering the bridge’s profile, the size and width of the nose, and the shape of your tip. Cartilage structure, skin texture, and thickness are determinants to find the proper technique.
Unlike Caucasian noses, ethnic rhinoplasty mostly involves a nose augmentation (adding cartilage and structure). Most patients wish to correct a flattened nose, flaring nostrils, or other ethnic characteristics.
Any non-Caucasian patient who suffers from insecurity and dissatisfaction with their nasal appearance is an ideal candidate for ethnic rhinoplasty!
Candidates for this surgery may be of Asian (Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino) heritage, African American background, or Hispanic ethnicity.
All candidates should have a good general health status and have realistic expectations of their results, though.
Whichever your case, this plastic surgery can only be performed for patients whose nose is at full maturity, typically after 15 years of age or older.
There could be as many different approaches as different ethnicities. And even then, no two noses are alike.
The objective of an Asian rhinoplasty, aka an Asian nose job, is not to westernize it. It is about modifying the shape of the nose so that it better suits the rest of the face.
Patients of Asian origin tend to have small, flat, and broader noses than individuals of European descent. Typically, these patients require lifting the bridge of the nose and narrowing the nostrils.
On the other hand, patients of West Asian descent, such as those from Iraq, Turkey, and Iran, tend to get adjustments of a prominent hump on the bridge. Also, they may display a drooping and poorly supported nasal tip.
African-American rhinoplasty is technically difficult because nasal bones tend to be comparatively short, requiring special care. Also, these patients often have broader and flatter noses compared to patients of European descent.
Typically, these patients have thick skin paired with weaker cartilage structure. This combination gives the nose a lack of projection with flared nostrils.
So, most African and Caribbean nose jobs involve narrowing the nostrils while adding structure to the bridge and tip of the nose.
However, all techniques used during ethnic rhinoplasty require a delicate balance between aesthetic and ethnic desires. Also, the rhinoplasty surgeon must keep facial harmony and enhance the natural proportions.
Understanding your personal aesthetics, managing your expectations, and having realistic goals are essential to plan a successful ethnic rhinoplasty journey!
During the initial rhinoplasty consultation, you will discuss your expectations with the surgeon. In turn, he will listen carefully and propose solutions specially tailored for you.
The cosmetic doctor will assess every detail of your nose, focusing on your areas of concern. Then, he will review your medical history and perform a complete physical exam of your nose.
This will include a functional assessment of your nose when breathing with your mouth open and closed. Also, an analysis of your nose when speaking and smiling is important.
During your consultation, before and after photographs will be taken for your medical record. Also, computer simulations will give more details about the intervention and let draw a surgical plan.
This step is crucial as it is more convenient to visualize possible postoperative results in advance. You will see your nose morph following your personal aesthetic goals.
Also, the doctor will explain each detail of the surgical approach and answer any questions you may have.
Depending on the patient’s needs and desired results, the doctor may also recommend additional cosmetic procedures, including a chin implant to balance the facial proportions and gracefully uphold your cultural identity.
When you have finally decided on having plastic surgery, the doctor will give you a set of recommendations and offer detailed instructions to help you prepare for your surgery.
Most probably, he may ask you to stop taking certain medications in the weeks leading up to surgery. Also, you should stop smoking (two weeks minimum) or undergo lab tests a few days before your surgery.
Ethnic rhinoplasty is generally done with the patient under general anaesthetic to ensure a comfortable and painless procedure. Depending on the case complexity, it can take up to 2.5 to 4 hours.
The doctor will make incisions within the nostrils or across the base of your nose. Then, he will separate the skin from the underlying tissues and work to reshape the nasal structure.
He could perform closed or open rhinoplasty.
Augmentation techniques are often used in these cases rather than narrowing the bridge by breaking the nose. They may use natural tissue and safe porous implants to replicate a nose that appropriately fits the face shape and ethnicity of the patient.
They could require harvesting rib cartilage to create grafts to increase the height of the bridge. So, this method is highly efficient in reinforcing the deficiency of the nose support.
Also, “ethnic” noses often have a weak tip support. Usually, they require a specialized stabilizing graft made from the patient’s cartilage. This allows more definition and thinning to the tip of the nose.
Whichever the case, every ethnic nose job requires a specific strategy that may be relatively complex.
Right after you wake up from surgery, your nose will be covered in bandages and a pliable cast-like dressing.
The ethnic rhinoplasty is generally performed as a day case procedure. However, your doctor could decide to leave you one night at the hospital if necessary.
As with most nose surgeries, patients present moderate bruising and swelling that will be more evident during the first week. Do not panic!
Also, minor oozing is expected for 4-5 days post-operatively.
Keeping your head elevated and sleeping in a semi-sitting position can help control swelling. Also, cooling packs may be applied during the first days. Arnica can be excellent for bruising too.
After 6-7 days, your doctor will remove the sutures used to close the incisions. Also, the cast on the back of your nose will be off by day 10.
The main recovery period for ethnic rhinoplasty is about ten to fourteen days. It is quite fast.
Bruising should resolve in less than two weeks. And swelling will gradually subside over a few months. Actually, the final results may not be noticeable until at least twelve months.
You should carefully protect the surgery site from impact and sun exposure for several months. Also, avoid strenuous activities for a minimum of six weeks after surgery.
Don’t worry about the scars. They are minimal and located either within the nose or under the tip of the nose to be unnoticeable. They will fade over time.
The price of an ethnic rhinoplasty depends on the complexity of your case and the type of hospitalization.
Without meeting the patient we don’t offer approximate prices as each patient is a different case. But we know that the economic factor is important when it comes to making a decision. Therefore, we offer the possibility for the patient to come to our facilities for a first free no-obligation visit.
You can consult with the surgeon regarding all your doubts and worries and we will offer the best solution and the best price.
There is no social security reimbursement for this specific nose job.
If you wish, you can send us some photos to have an estimate quote. Photos will not be stored and will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Please explain the results you wish to obtain.