On the NOSE

Presenting an overview on the surgical procedure that is ethnic rhinoplasty – a specialized operation of the nose that is specifically designed to enhance a patient’s appearance without altering his or her ethnic identity1. PROF NKHENSANI CHAUKE-MALINGA

- PROF NKHENSANI CHAUKE-MALINGA

All noses are not created equal. Just as each individual is unique, so is every nose. What’s more, the differences in noses are not merely confined to appearance, but also because of the distinctive ways in how they are structured. This can be seen among individuals of ethnic descent, where the bridges and bones of their noses are often noticeably structured differently2.

Rhinoplasty and ethnicity

Ethnic rhinoplasty is an all-encompassing term that refers to a delicate nose procedure performed on non-Caucasian patients (i.e. Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Asian, African, and other mixed ethnicities). However, for the purpose of this article, we will solely focus on the rhinoplasty procedure performed on patients of African descent.

Why contemplate ethnic rhinoplasty procedure?

Patients who seek this particular elective surgery usually do so either for aesthetic improvements or functionality purposes.

Aesthetic reasons include:

• Amending a flat nasal dorsum (which may or may not give an illusion of a short nose on profile view)

• Adjusting a broad nose that seems incongruent to facial features

• Correcting an ill-defined nasal tip

• Reducing wide and/or flaring nostrils.

While functionality purposes involve:

• Correcting a deviated septum (this procedure not only helps the patient breathe with ease, but also assists in alleviating any sinus problems).

What results can one expect from ethnic rhinoplasty?

Aesthetically speaking, the goal of this extremely detailed operation is threefold:

• Achieving the best aesthetic outcome