We’ve heard multiple stories from ethnic women and men who got frustrated or disheartened when looking for a rhinoplasty surgeon. They browse through multiple surgeons’ websites and find only a few Black, Asian, or Middle Eastern patients on before-and-after pages. Or, they may set up disappointing consultations where a surgeon makes backhanded comments about their facial anatomy or discusses removing hereditary characteristics that make their appearance unique. When a patient hears such things, it’s a red flag that they’re in the wrong place.
Thankfully, the beauty industry as a whole has finally become more inclusive, but the field of plastic surgery lags behind the times.
Overlooking Ethnicity
In America, most beauty standards still derive from a Western European standpoint. Historically, cosmetic surgeons have based their ideal nasal proportions on Caucasian men and women, regardless of their patients’ heritage. This outdated mindset has caused even highly experienced surgeons to ignore variations of nasal and facial anatomies inherent to different ethnic groups.
Surgeon Experience
Many plastic surgeons lack ethnic rhinoplasty experience. Therefore, a surgeon must make a concerted effort and attend rhinoplasty seminars and conferences worldwide to advance their knowledge and technical skill.
Since every patient’s anatomy, goals, and cosmetic concerns are unique, triple board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ali Sajjadian takes great care to customize his rhinoplasty procedures to meet individual needs. Women and men of various racial backgrounds have distinct nasal structures and facial features requiring a customized approach.
What Is Ethnic Rhinoplasty?
Ethnic rhinoplasty is specialized nasal surgery that addresses a patient’s cosmetic and functional concerns while preserving characteristics unique to their cultural identity. In many cases, patients of different heritages want to maintain distinct facial features while still improving their nose’s shape, size, or other aspects.
Your surgeon must have excellent knowledge of nasal anatomies and the overall facial proportions of different ethnicities. Dr. Sajjadian is highly experienced in this field and has helped many women and men enhance their appearance and boost their confidence and self-esteem.
How Does Ethnic Rhinoplasty Work?
Like traditional rhinoplasty, ethnic rhinoplasty is highly customizable to meet patients’ particular expectations and concerns. For example, depending on your goals, Dr. Sajjadian may recommend an open or closed rhinoplasty approach. During the procedure, he will apply complex and delicate techniques to improve the size, shape, function and correct any cosmetic flaws of the nose, which may include:
- Bone reduction
- Cartilage removal
- Cartilage grafting
- Internal sutures
Ethnic nasal structures have distinct features, including skin pliability and width, a flat bridge, or a wide tip, which Dr. Sajjadian considers when creating a surgical plan. These traits may require a different approach when compared with a traditional rhinoplasty. Additionally, many patients wish to preserve their ethnic appearance. Using his experience, skill, and artistry, Dr. Sajjadian can enhance the nose appearance without sacrificing the patient’s cultural identity.
Ethnic rhinoplasty is ideal for patients of the following racial backgrounds.
African American Rhinoplasty
Surgical expertise is as critical for African American rhinoplasty as any other rhinoplasty technique. However, some Black patients have a flat, thick nose tip that requires more attention. One approach Dr. Sajjadian may use during surgery is grafting a piece of cartilage taken from the nasal interior. As a result, the tip will be more substantial, less flat, and receding.
Also, Dr. Sajjadian may have to remove fat from the end by taking cartilage from the nose, trimming off the excess, then returning the reshaped cartilage back into its natural bed within the nose.
Hispanic Rhinoplasty
There is a significant variance in shape, cartilage structure, thickness, and skin color among the Hispanic population. The base width, nostril shape, and the thickness of the “wings” (or ala) are also different. In Indigenous people of Latin descent, genetic traits tend to include wide nostrils, flat, plunging tips, thick wings, and a low bump on the bridge.
Other Hispanics appear European, with strong cartilages, thin skin, a narrow high bridge, and thin nasal walls.
Hispanic patients remain proud of their heritage and are less likely to desire radical changes. Plus, that would make their rhinoplasty outcomes inconsistent with their other facial features.
Asian Rhinoplasty
Asian patients usually have a low bridge, wide floor of each nostril, thick nostril walls, and a thick, poorly defined tip. Surgical corrections are available, as are non-surgical remedies.
The most common alteration Dr. Sajjadian performs for an Asian nose is raising the bridge and refining the tip. Some patients ask for nostril-narrowing procedures, which involve making external incisions between the wings, the upper lip, and the lower cheek. Then, Dr. Sajjadian brings the walls of the wing base closer together, narrowing the lowest part of the nose. Typically, these procedures heal well and incisions become unnoticeable within several months.
Middle Eastern Rhinoplasty
Technically, the techniques used to perform traditional rhinoplasty and Middle Eastern rhinoplasty are similar. However, it is a matter of degree, particularly for men. A Middle Eastern rhinoplasty should be conservative and not draw attention to itself – no upward turn, no pinched tip, no low bridge. Nothing looks more off than an overdone Middle Eastern rhinoplasty.
Learn More About Ethnic Rhinoplasty in Newport Beach, CA
Having rhinoplasty doesn’t mean you have to give up your ethnic identity. Instead, Dr. Sajjadian’s rhinoplasty approach helps enhance natural beauty and creates harmony with other facial features.
To learn more about the exciting possibilities of ethnic rhinoplasty in Newport Beach, CA, call Dr. Ali Sajjadian and schedule your consultation today!
Call our Newport Beach office at (949) 515-0550 or contact us today to set up your ethnic rhinoplasty consultation.