Ethnic rhinoplasty refers to a popular type of nose surgery that is tailored to address the unique characteristics of individuals from various ethnic backgrounds. The goal of this procedure is to enhance or refine the appearance of the nose while still maintaining the patient’s ethnic identity.
For example, individuals of African, Asian, or Hispanic descent may have wider or flatter noses with broader nostrils and thicker skin, while those of European or Middle Eastern descent may have more prominent bridges or sharper nasal tips. Dr. Totonchi aims to take these differences into account to create a more harmonious and balanced face.
Keep reading to learn about some common ethnic rhinoplasty treatments Dr. Totonchi is well versed in providing his patients at Totonchi Plastic Surgery.
African American Ethnic Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is becoming increasingly popular among the African American population. Common aesthetic concerns of the African American nose include:
A wide dorsum, ill-defined tip, decreased tip projection, alar flaring (nostrils), and diminished nasal height and length.
Dr Totonchi appreciates the ethnic concept of beauty and nasofacial harmony to create an aesthetic balance in treating African American rhinoplasty patients. The goal to be met for rhinoplasty on African American noses is to achieve harmony and balance, with a narrower, straight dorsum, increased height, better tip projection and definition, while reducing nasal flaring. Nasofacial harmony is the ultimate goal of any surgical plan.
Challenges when working with the African American nose are that the skin is thick, sebaceous, and inelastic, making it difficult to obtain a well-defined tip. Choosing a rhinoplasty plastic surgeon who is skilled in ethnic noses is imperative to be able to achieve your goal.
Middle Eastern Ethnic Rhinoplasty
The Middle Eastern nose often demonstrates a high dorsum, ill-defined or dependent, droopy nasal tip, prominent dorsal hump and often an obvious nasal or septal deviation.
Dr Totonchi appreciates the ethnic concept of beauty and nasofacial harmony to create an aesthetic balance in treating Middle Eastern rhinoplasty patients. The goal to be met for rhinoplasty on the Middle Eastern nose is to achieve harmony and balance, this is achieved by a reduction in dorsal height, a reduction in dorsal hump, correction of septal deviations, narrowing and defining the nasal tip and defatting of the soft tissue of the tip, and correcting asymmetry of the nares.
Challenges, when working with the Middle Eastern nose, are that the skin is thick, sebaceous, and redundant, making it difficult to achieve fine definition. Choosing a plastic surgeon who is familiar and has experience in ethnic noses is crutial to be able to achieve your aesthetic goals.
Asian Ethnic Rhinoplasty
Asian rhinoplasty patients frequently desire augmentation to the dorsum of the nose with added projection of the tip. Typically, Asian noses have relatively week structural support and thick overlying skin tissue.
The goal to be met for rhinoplasty on the Asian nose is to achieve harmony and balance, this is achieved by tip refinement and creating dorsal height. Implants or cartilage grafts are generally needed to create both dorsal height and tip projection. Cartilage grafts are taken from the septum, ear or costal cartilage(ribs). Dr. Totonchi’s preference in Asian rhinoplasty is rib graft to achieve dorsal height.
Challenges when working with the Asian nose, are generally associated with the complications that can arise with the harvest of the cartilage graft used for augmentation. Choosing a plastic surgeon who is skilled in ethnic noses is imperative to be able to achieve your aesthetic goal.
When it comes to function, rhinoplasty can help resolve airway and breathing issues and in turn provide tremendous relief to those who cannot breathe properly due to dysfunctional nasal anatomy. The most common plastic surgery procedure associated with correcting airway issues due to a deviated septum is a septoplasty. The septum is composed of bone and cartilage which separates the left and right nares. When the septum is deviated, difficulties in breathing can occur. Septoplasty involves surgically correcting the deviation in order to increase nasal airflow. Turbinate reduction can also be done at the same time, if indicated, to increase air movement through the nares.
Benefits of Ethnic Rhinoplasty
- Preserving the patient’s cultural identity
- Improving symmetry
- Creating a balanced face with harmonious proportions
- Boosting self-confidence
- Reprojecting the nasal tip
- Adjusting nostril size and shape
- Smoothing the nasal bridge
- Correcting a deviated septum for easier breathing
Ethnic Rhinoplasty Recovery & Results
Dr. Totonchi recommends that his rhinoplasty patients prioritize rest and relaxation for the first week of their recovery. He will prescribe pain medication so patients can relieve any post-surgical discomfort. Patients should wear their nasal splint to help support and protect the nose.
Most patients feel and look well enough to resume their jobs and normal activities after about two weeks, though they should avoid any activities that could potentially result in an injury to the nose.
Full results may not be visible for several months as the swelling gradually subsides. However, patience is rewarded with permanent results. Patients can enjoy their new nose shape for the rest of their lives.
Ethnic Rhinoplasty Costs
Because every rhinoplasty that Dr. Totonchi performs is unique and intricate, the cost is determined by the specific techniques utilized to achieve the patient’s preferred changes. On average, ethnic rhinoplasty does not cost more or less than “traditional” rhinoplasty.
Most nose reshaping surgeries that Dr. Totonchi performs are considered cosmetic, so they are not covered by insurance. However, a functional rhinoplasty that is meant to improve breathing may be covered, at least in part, by insurance. Financing options are also available.
Why Choosing an Experienced Surgeon Is So Important for Ethnic Rhinoplasty
In the United States, nearly three out of every four rhinoplasty patients are white. Many plastic surgeons learned this surgery on white patients and have predominately performed this surgery on white patients throughout their careers. Combine that with the “white beauty ideal” that is prevalent in the United States, and this results in some doctors, even if unconsciously, sculpting the noses they work on to match a white face.
Unfortunately, these anglicized features do not always correspond with non-white faces. This can leave patients of color feeling dissatisfied with their results. After all, most patients want to enhance their appearance, not change it dramatically by erasing their cultural identity.
This is why so many patients of color choose Dr. Totonchi for ethnic rhinoplasty. He has studied the nuances between noses across a wide range of cultures and implements these differences into the surgeries he performs.
Ethnic Rhinoplasty FAQs
Are ethnic rhinoplasty techniques different than those used with traditional rhinoplasty?
No, ethnic rhinoplasty is not a separate set of techniques, it uses many of the same tricks and approaches that could benefit a Caucasian nose. What distinguishes ethnic rhinoplasty is the aesthetic outlook that Dr. Totonchi brings to the procedure. He devotes time and care to determining the traits that make the nose correspond with the patient’s identity.
Does Dr. Totonchi perform revisional ethnic rhinoplasty?
Yes, Dr. Totonchi does perform revision rhinoplasty for patients of all ethnicities. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for patients who have seen other doctors who are not familiar with the principles of ethnic rhinoplasty to be dissatisfied with their results. Revisional rhinoplasty is a way to surgically correct the nose to achieve the patient’s desired look. Performing a second surgery on the nose is even more intricate, so choosing a top rhinoplasty expert is essential.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Totonchi
Many patients have a combination of aesthetic and functional nasal concerns that they seek to correct when undergoing rhinoplasty surgery. During the consultation, Dr Totonchi will talk with you and create a customized surgical plan, based on your individual aesthetic and functional concerns, and desired outcome.
It is important to note that ethnic rhinoplasty requires a high level of skill and experience on the part of the surgeon, as well as an understanding of the cultural nuances of the patient’s ethnic background. Patients considering ethnic rhinoplasty should choose a surgeon like Dr. Totonchi who has extensive experience in performing this type of surgery and who is sensitive to the cultural and ethnic aspects of their identity.
