Rhinoplasty, also commonly known as a nose job, is a cosmetic procedure meant to improve the shape of a person’s nose. When people with ethnic heritage, such as Asians and African-Americans, consult a cosmetic surgeon for a nose job, they typically have one goal in mind: to change their noses.
Thanks to modern cosmetic surgery techniques, people with ethnic heritage can opt to improve their noses without having to resort to unnatural nose appearance. An ethnic nose job lets you have a beautiful nose without erasing your ethnic or cultural identity. If you are of Asian or African ethnicity and you’re considering getting a nose job in Los Angeles, read on to know more about ethnic rhinoplasty and how it differs from a traditional nose job procedure.
What Is Traditional Nose Job
Traditional rhinoplasty can be considered as a regular nose job. In this procedure, the ethnicity of a patient is not generally considered. It is simply designed to correct nose shape and size. In this type of cosmetic surgery, the surgeon can correct a nose’s crookedness or tip. The surgeon can also increase (and, in some cases, decrease) the nose’s bridge.
Now, a traditional rhinoplasty in the US often means following the ideal Caucasian nose. While this type of nose is beautiful, it may not look natural on an Asian or African-American individual. This is where the ethnic nose job comes in.
What Is Ethnic Nose Job
Rhinoplasty, as we know it today, was first done in the western countries on Caucasian people. Over the decades, it has also become popular with ethnic groups. Specialists found the need for a way to tailor the procedure to every patient.
Ethnic rhinoplasty was developed as a variation of the traditional rhinoplasty. It is performed with the same goals in place, which is to change and improve an individual’s nose. However, an ethnic nose job differs from a traditional nose job in such a way that it is performed on patients with non-Caucasian ethnic background. These patients include those of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern descent who have different nose structure compared to Caucasian people.
Characteristics of Ethnic Rhinoplasty
The success of a nose job depends on how the outcome sits in harmony with the patient’s overall facial features. In this regard, ethnic rhinoplasty procedures vary depending on the patient’s race.
In an Asian ethnic nose job, the surgeon needs to add some volume to the bridge, so it does not look flat and wide. This procedure is similar to an implant and is made possible through the use of silicone or the patient’s tissue. The surgeon may use donated tissue in some cases as well.
The cosmetic surgeon may also need to adjust the nasal base of an Asian patient’s nose. This needs to be done carefully, as excessive reduction of the nasal base could make the nose look non-Asian.
Meanwhile, in African or African-American rhinoplasty, the operation techniques are similar to those of traditional rhinoplasty. However, the procedure is done so that the nose is made a bit narrower and refined.
A Final Word: Rhinoplasty Should Not Be Done to Erase One’s Ethnic Identity
Ethnic rhinoplasty was developed to help those who want to improve their nose without erasing their heritage. Those who are hoping to look “less black” or “more white” may need to reconsider their goals. The best way to ensure that rhinoplasty, or any cosmetic surgical procedure for that matter, to work for you is to consult an expert and experienced cosmetic surgeon.
