Are my expectations realistic for an African American rhinoplasty?

Question

I'm an African American woman who's interested in a rhinoplasty. My main concerns are the tip of my nose, namely how wide and bulbous it is. However, I'm worried about having overly pinched or triangular nostrils. My ideal nose would be a narrower, less round, and less bulbous version of my own nose. Are my expectations realistic? Would I also need an implant to achieve a good result? Thank you!

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

Absolutely! Your goals are definitely realistic. I can see a lot of your tip cartilage, which is unusual for the thick African American skin, but it's helpful information because it tells me that you definitely have options to get your tip more refined/narrow without getting pinched. I hope you find a great surgeon to achieve your goals! Good luck.

Bora Ok, MD · Answer

Greetings from Istanbul! Your goals are indeed realistic and align well with the objectives of ethnic rhinoplasty. The focus in such procedures is typically on refining the tip, narrowing the nostrils, and enhancing the bridge. The goal is never to westernize the nose, but to create a beautifully contoured version of your own nose. You would most likely need rib cartilage grafting (harvested from your own rib) to enhance the bridge, this is standard procedure performed quite frequently in ethnic rhinoplasties. Selecting a surgeon with extensive experience in ethnic rhinoplasty will be key to achieving the nuanced, natural-looking results you desire. Hope this helps, best of luck!

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

Actually your expectations are very good. Problems occur when a surgeon tries to do too much, and in a thicker skinned patient, that can cause problems. Your curved tip cartilages can be made thinner to give you a refined tip without pinching. I don't think you really need an implant as your bridge looks good. Be sure to see a rhinoplasty expert for consultation.

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hello! I see what you're referring to. You can certainly make your nose more refined but not too pinched or narrowed. You wouldn't need an implant to do this. Your own cartilage and skin can be changed to create an improved result. It may be worthwhile to see a surgeon who can perform image morphing so that you can both agree on an outcome. Hope this helps!

Are my expectations realistic for an African American rhinoplasty?

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