Rhinoplasty Specialized to Make an Attractive Asian Nose

Nose jobs used to be very noticeable and were usually afforded only by the Hollywood stars. However today, the techniques have been refined to produce very natural looking results for all people of all ethnic backgrounds. Asians as a group, in particular, have been getting more Rhinoplasty surgeries over the past several years than before. This is because of the many plastic surgeons that have effectively learned the skills and techniques needed for the unique structure of Asian nasal cases.

What is Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery procedure that changes the appearance of the nose to better balance with the face. It is performed by making incisions inside of the nose, pulling back the skin tissues, and reshaping its bones and the cartilage at the end for a more appealing look. It is an outpatient procedure that takes several hours under the hand of a skilled plastic surgeon. The recovery involves some swelling, bruising, and soreness. These problems usually recede after a week or two, although it may take longer to get the final shape. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons actually counsels patients that it may take up to a year for the nasal contours to completely finish settling.

What is the Goal of Asian Rhinoplasty?

In general, Asians have a lower nasal bridge compared to those of the Caucasian race. They also have thicker skin and wear cartilage, as well as wider nostrils. While Caucasians get rhinoplasty done to make their large, defined noses smaller and less defined; Asians are typically looking to get larger, more prominent shape.

Asian Nose Bridges

Asian patients often ask their cosmetic surgeons for a higher, more prominent nose bridge. This is achieved by adding tissues to the bridge that are made from synthetic materials or from some part of the patient's body (i.e. bone from the ribs, skull, or ear). Synthetic materials seem to have better success rates in Asians than the native tissues. The surgeon will first shave the nasal bridge bone to make it smooth, and then affix the chosen material to the bone. Some cosmetic surgeons advocate that Asian nasal bridges should only start at or below the eyelashes and not higher like many Caucasians.

Asian Nose Tips

The most effective way to reshape the tip of an Asian nose is to use tissue from the nasal septum or perhaps the ears to add to the nose tip - unlike traditional rhinoplasty which narrows the tip or folds the cartilage into place. (The Asian nasal cartilage is weaker than Caucasians and won't usually respond well to traditional techniques.)

This tissue helps strengthen the tip and provide adequate support for increased length or definition. Some Asian patients request narrowing of the nostrils, but this must be done with great care to avoid looking artificial. The key is to retain the natural curvature of the nostrils.

Asian do require slightly different care in cosmetic surgery than Caucasians, but the good news is that there are plenty of well-qualified plastic surgeons out there who know exactly what needs to be done to create a beautiful nose!