African American Rhinoplasty Q&A
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How to Get a Smaller African American Nose Tip?

asked 2 years ago by sweetchildofmine
Latest answer by Jon F. Harrell, DO
Question viewed 1,327 times
Tags: nose tip, female, technique

I have since found before and after pictures of the model I had in a previous question. Looking at her before nose, which is on the left in the pictures, her tip is significantly smaller. I was always informed by dr's that its NOT possible to get a lot of definition in a black nose. What technique is used to create a small tip like this?

By creating a smaller tip and a defined bridge, does this somehow create a optical illusion that the nose is smaller than it really is? Thank you :-)

14 answers to How to Get a Smaller African American Nose Tip?

+2

Modifications of Goldman technique to refine African American nose

In most cases, the techniques that I prefer to treat the relatively typical bulbus, amorphus, ill-defined African American nasal tip are modifications of the “Goldman “ technique of vertical dome division supported by the use of cartilaginous struts and battens. In my hands and in my long-standing rhinoplasty experience, this technique affords me the best projection, definition and support of the tip in these cases.
Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD

Freehold Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

How to get a narrow tip with African American Rhinoplasty

There isn't just 'one' characteristic African American Nose. Skin thickness varies, as does the thickness and stiffness of the tip cartilages. These differences can make it more or less easy to aggressively shape a nose. Better pre-existing tip support and thinner skin - easier to get a narrower tip. Heavy thick skin and weak, flimsy tip cartilages - tougher to create a sculpted looking tip. Of course, in a reasonable candidate there should be a significant amount of hope that... more
Jon F. Harrell, DO

Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.westonsurgery.com

+1

African American Rhinoplasty

Regardless of Race, it is important for rhinoplasty doctor to understand the patient's goals.  Most African American rhinoplasty patients desire increased tip definition, a slight decrease in nostril width or size and more definition of the nasal bridge.   They don't want a "Caucasian Nose".   Tip definition is the most important change. This definition can be acheived by contolling skin thickness, shaping the existing  tip cartilage domes and... more
Daniel Reichner, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Techniques to refine African American nose

By creating a smaller tip and more of a defined bridge, this does give an optical illusion that the entire nose is smaller. It appears smaller only because the tip is narrower and the bridge is higher. When the bridge is higher it gives the appearance that the nasal bones are narrower, even though they have not been narrowed. The amount of definition that can be obtained in African-American rhinoplasty depends on how thick the presenting skin is. Rhinoplasty surgery is not skin... more
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

African-American nasal tip

In noses with thick skin, definition can be improved by changing cartilage shape and usually adding cartilage grafts to increase strength and maintain the desired contour. It is not about skin color, just skin thickness. All African-Americans do not have thick skin as we see in the pictures of the model you submitted.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ethnic rhinoplasty techniques

Hello, Increasing tip projection and maybe a tip graft would be of benefit if you have thick skin. In addition, alar base reduction would be used to create the appearance of a smaller tip. Hope this helps answer your question. Dr. Nassif
Paul S. Nassif, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

African American Rhinoplasty

Hi, It is very challanging to reduce the tip size of an African American nose.The techniques that i use are what I call the three tiered approach. They consist of deffating the tip and adding cartilage grafts to the tip. Also elevation of the bridge will give the the whole nose a narrow appearance. The bridge elevation si done with a custom implant carved from silastic. Best, Dr.S
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tip definition in the African American rhinoplasty

There is generally no single maneuver to create the well defined tip in a "typical" African American nose. As you have stated and have been told in the past, it is more difficult to obtain extreme definition in thicker skinned noses. That does not necessarily mean that you cannot have significantly improved definition when the surgery is performed appropriately. I have a large ethnic population of rhinoplasty patients and the metaphor I use to explain the changes we are going to... more
Philip S. Schoenfeld, MD

Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

African American Nose

Typically a compbination of procedures are performed. Commonly, a reduction of cartilages and stitches to control the shape with conservative defatting of the skin with selective grafting of the tip and dorsum to provide enhanced definition and projection is performed in combination with nostril wedge resections.
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty in African American nose

It certainly is possible to refine a nasal tip in an African-American.  However, in patients that have very thick tissues, it can be quite difficult.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can get more definition in an African American nose

As in all ethnicities, there are a variety of noses and a variety of techniques. In what is considered a "typical" African American nose, we create definition the opposite way than in a typical Caucasian rhinoplasty. Not only is the skin thick but the cartilage is usually soft. If you push on the tip of your nose, you will likely see that it is very soft and there is little resistance. To get definition in thick skin, I use grafts of your own cartilage in between and on top of your... more
Steven J. Pearlman, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

African American nose tips require support

As a general rule, the African American nose requires tip support to elevate and strengthen this will require a cartilage graft. The quality of the skin is also important because if you have thick skin it is harder to get a refined tip. The tip may also have more fat in it and some times this has to be addressed. These issues may be applicable to you but it not always the case. Other than the items I have mentioned above, the cartilage has to be trimmed and remodeled like any other nose tip... more
Marcus L. Peterson, MD

Saint George Plastic Surgeon
+1

Refining African American nose tip

Hi, You can get a lot of definition in African American noses but it depends on the skin thickness and the definition of " a lot." With very thick skin, moderate definition can be obtained. with normal to thinner skin (as in this model), significant definition can be achieved with tip suture techniques and tip grafts.
Shervin Naderi, MD

Washington DC Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Find an African American Rhinoplasty surgeon to refine nose tip

Dr. Pearlman is absolutely right. The appearance of the nose to a large extent depends on how the skin drapes over the underlying structure. Imagine a patio table; if covered by a silk table cloth, every detail of the table will be seen, though if covered by a burlap sac, no details will come though. With thin European skin a good definition of the tip may be obtained just by shaping the tip (lower lateral) cartilages. The skin is thin enough to reflect that work. With thick unyielding skin... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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