In a previous post, one of my colleagues identified the core concerns for ethnic cosmetic surgery patients. I’d like to build on that groundwork by taking an in-depth look at some of the specifics of ethnic rhinoplasties which, along with other procedures like upper eyelid surgery, constitute the majority of the “ethnic” San Francisco cosmetic surgery procedures I perform.

Why Your Nose Requires a Specific Approach

The front of your nose is made of joined sections of cartilage attached to the bone. The specific arrangement of this cartilage can differ significantly between ethnicities.

• African-American noses are often characterized by minimal alar (nose-tip) cartilage, limiting the distance and angle at which the nose projects from the face. African-American noses also tend to have more soft tissue than the textbook nose.
• Asian noses similarly tend to have less projection, a lower bridge, and a higher ratio of soft tissue. The nostrils also may take on a “flared” appearance.
• Mediterranean noses very often have a thicker buildup of cartilage at the bridge of the nose, creating a hump that, combined with a greater tendency for the nose to dip, gives a bonier, more aquiline profile.

At the same time, nasal appearance often involves a kind of optical illusion. The ideal nose harmonizes with the features around it by balancing them out, but a competent San Francisco facial plastic surgeon also needs to address how the other facial factors like eye location, cheekbone height and angle, and the form and size of the mouth determine the right balance for a more aesthetically pleasing nose.

Popular Options for a Sampling of Nose Shapes

• For African-American noses, small nasal implants at the nose tip often slim and lengthen the look of the nose, improving projection without losing ethnic characteristics. Sometimes a patient will require reduction of flesh at the tip, and many will choose to have me sculpt a higher, straighter bridge to even out the changes and prevent a “ski-slope” look. Nostril correction is only sometimes a component, as many African-American patients find that wider nostrils maintain a more balanced look.
• Because of the fleshier composition of their noses, Asian patients can often choose the San Francisco nonsurgical rhinoplasty, which uses injectable dermal fillers to refine the nose tip or create a higher-profile bridge. At the same time, they will often choose subtle correction for evident nostrils, either by direct nostril surgery or by adding to the tip to minimize a “snub-nosed” appearance.
• Nose surgery in San Francisco to correct a Mediterranean nasal “hump” typically involves two steps. First, through any of a selection of approaches, I will remove excess cartilage or bone from the nasal bridge. Then, I may also cut the tiny muscle that causes the nose to point down when the patient smiles. Thinner nostrils are also more popular with my Mediterranean patients, but only moderate nostril adjustment is usually sufficient to balance out faces that tend to be a little more angular.