Can African American Rhinoplasty Be Achieved with a More Nautral Ethnic Look?

rodoz0778,

When rhinoplasty is performed today, ethnic variations should be considered and preserved.  Let's face it, a Caucasian nose does not look natural on an Asian individual.  What is crucial is to find a surgeon with experience in African-American rhinoplasty.  Not only is every nose different, every ethnicity is different.  In general, I am not a fan of nasal implants.  Your body recognizes this material as foreign.  This can work out perfectly, or it can lead to scarring and/or implant extrusion.  The best tissue is your own tissue.  If you need nasal augmentation, your own cartilage (obtained from your nasal septum or ear) will usually work well.  Above all, find someone who routinely achieves the results that your seek.  The best referral is a personal referral.  Next, check credentails and the state medical board licence records.  Finally, go with your gut.  Best of luck! 

Hi from Istanbul,

Thanks for your question. The short answer is yes! You can get a rhinoplasty and still have a natural look. I perform hundreds of ethnic rhinoplasties every year, and while some patients want a very sleek look, others, like yourself, prefer a more natural appearance. We take into consideration the wishes of our patients and sculpt in the best way possible, considering each patient's anatomy.

We mostly use rib cartilage grafts to augment the bridge, which creates a defined look. Nasal bones need to be shaped, but not to the point you describe as unnaturally narrow. We avoid over-refinement by pinching the nose too much, creating a tip that is too small or upturned, or excessively reducing nostrils. We focus on creating a proportional and balanced appearance that maintains your ethnic features.

Hope this helps. Best of luck to you!

Hello,
In general, the African-American nose is flat, wide and short relative to the Caucasian nose while the skin is thicker and the cartilages are weaker. The goal in African-American rhinoplasty should never be to anglicize the nose, it should be to harmonize the nose to the rest of the face. Also, because of the quality of the skin and the cartilages many special graft will be necessary to get the desires results. Your concerns are typical and a soft cartilage graft over the bridge with give height and improve your profile (and make your nose look narrower from the front). You will need a firm graft for the tip to give it more support - that will present your nose from collapsing and widening when you smile. 
Hope this answer helps,
Mehdi Sina, MD

What a great smile!! Yes there are ways to create a beautiful, natural ethnically appropriate nose. Make sure your rhinoplasty surgeon uses a computer imager to visually show you some possibilities, this helps you both understand the goals of your specific procedure.

ABSOLUTELY!  The key to a succesful ethnic and African-American rhinoplasty is creating a natural and appropriate nose that fits your facial shape, skin color, ethnicity, and eye appearance.  You can get an excellent outcome in the right hands.

Key step here is to work with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon with African American noses.  When rhinoplasty is properly performed, racial identity should not be changed.

There are a number of ways to strengthen a nasal tip, essentially working primarily on the cartilaginous portion of the nose. Other techniques can be utilized to further enhance the appearance of the nose, including nostril narrowing. The attached video shows an example of how ethnic characteristics can be preserved but aesthetic features achieved.

When approaching ethnic rhinoplasty patients, determining the preoperative goals and confirming the patient’s expectations is of paramount importance. The goals of ethnic rhinoplasty should therefore address the patient’s desire for preservation or alteration of ethnicity, balance of surrounding features, and adherence to patient desires.

It is possible to improve the appearance and proportion of the nose while preserving features of their ethnicity.

Hi Rod,
Yes, a natural ethnic result can, and should be achieved in African American rhinoplasty. You are correct in that augmentation of the nose with an implant via an external rhinoplasty approach would help to support the flattening of your nose when you smile, as well as building up the bridge of your nose.
It is most important to choose your rhinoplasty surgeon most carefully. In the Atlanta, Ga area, William Silver, MD has a very good reputation. Good luck and be well.
Dr. P

This is a very good question, and the key issue is that principles of an African-American rhinoplasty is quite different than a caucasian rhinoplasty.
You can absolutely achieve a very natural result, but you want to find a surgeon who is experienced in rhinoplasties of all types. Ask him or her to describe in detail what they see when they analyze your nose, and what their plan is to improve it.
Also, ask to see before and after pictures, and this will give you a very good idea of their approach and whether or not it is what you're looking for!
Best of luck, Dr. S