Asian Rhinoplasty - What's Right for the Asian Nose Job?

Certain nasal features are prevalent among people of Asian heritage. The skin of the nose tends to be thick and sebaceous. The nasal tip may be bulbous and under-projected with thick skin. The dorsum (bridge) may be low and wide and the nasal base may be wide. An acute nasiolabial angle and retrusive maxilla also gives the nose a less protrusive appearance. For patients wanting narrower or more projected noses, there are many techniques available to enhance the nose without adding significant size. In fact, narrowing the nose will reduce its size.
One challenge of Asian rhinoplasty is that it can be difficult to achieve fine features when dealing with thick skin. However, a pointed or angular nose might not suit the patient’s face and therefore, the thick skin may not be a concern. Each patient is examined individually and a unique surgery plan is designed to meet his or her goals

Asian noses tend to have:

Weak bridge or dorsumBulbous tipWide nostrilsThick Skin Each ethnicity has its own cultural ideas of beauty that must be appreciated and enhanced with any plastic surgery procedure that is performed. If you are interested in ethnic rhinoplasty that respects your cultural identity, please take the time to find a professional who has experience in this area. I hope this helps.

Every individual has unique nasal anatomy, but ethnicity does influence
surgical technique in specific ways. For example, individuals of Asians descent
and some other ethnic groups tend to have a flattened bridge. As a result, one
of the most requested modifications among Asian patients is a nasal bridge
augmentation, also called a dorsal augmentation. The nasal bridge can be
enhanced using two main techniques: cartilage grafts and implants. Tip definition is an issue and tips are usually under projected and cartilage grafts are best for providing more definition and projection. In general, a cartilage transplant is preferred. However, another
characteristic that is related to ethnicity should be taken into consideration:
the thickness of the skin. Cartilage grafts tends to be the better option for
those with thin skin, while implants is typically more suitable for those with
thick skin.

Asian rhinoplasty generally involves augmentation of the nose with various type of implants (primarily silicone) and cartilage grafts.  In contrast, most Caucasian rhinoplasty involves reduction of the nose to make it smaller.Asian rhinoplasty has evolved from just putting in a silicone implant, which often leads to an artificial appearance to a technique where a combination of implants and cartilage grafts are harmonized to create a completely natural result.  I feel the greatest advancements in this field are the techniques to reshape the tip of the nose with various cartilage grafting techniques.  In Asian rhinoplasty, increased projection of the tip of the nose is usually necessary.  Often the length of the nose, which is the distance from the root of the nose to the tip is too short.  To adequately address these conditions in most patients, the septum, which is the plate of cartilage that separates the two nasal cavities, is lengthened with a special cartilage graft to support the new tip position.  This septal extension graft is used frequently in my practice and I often see revision rhinoplasty patients that could have avoided a revision surgery if this technique was used in the first place.

Thank you for the great question. There are some typical characteristics of Caucasian and Asian noses, including the shape and structure.  Asian noses are commonly shorter, flatter, and have a wider base than Caucasian noses.  In addition, the cartilage in the tip is frequently thinner, with a thicker skin and fibrofatty tissue contribution to the shape.  These differences lead to a different approach for Asian rhinoplasty. Generally, Asian rhinoplasty involves making a nose a bit bigger -- notably by raising the height of the bridge and/or lengthening the nose.  This is typically performed with cartilage grafts from the septum, ear, or rib.  In addition, the base of the nose (ala or nostrils) is commonly reduced.  Structural grafts are usually required to give the tip more support and shape.

There is a big difference between Caucasian and Asian Rhinoplasty (nose job). This is broken down into 3 differences: 1) Goals 2) Anatomic differences and 3) How surgery is done.1. GOALS. Caucasians usually request reduction of a dorsal bump and refinement of the nasal tip and reducing nasal tip projection (height). Asians often want the a higher nasal bridge, elevated nasal tip and reduction in nostril width to give a more refined appearance to the dorsum and tip. They don't necessarily want a more Caucasian nose and often want to preserve their ethnicity. 2. ANATOMY. Caucasians often have an excess of bone and cartilage creating the features they want to change. Their overlying skin to the nose is thin and less fatty tissue. If cartilage grafting is needed to correct a nasal deformity, their is ample cartilage in their nasal septum and other sources such as ear, rib or synthetic materials are less likely to be needed. Asians on the other hand have too little bone and cartilage along their nasal bridge and tip. They also have thicker overlying skin covering with more fat. Grafting materials are often needed to build up their nasal bridge and tip. Unlike Caucasians, septal cartilage is not plentiful, as most of their septum is made out bone (instead of pliable cartilage). This necessitates other grafting materials or sources such as synthetic materials, ear cartilage and even rib.3. HOW THE SURGERY IS PERFORMED. In Caucasians, dorsal hump (bump) reduction, reshaping the tip cartilage, and decreasing the projection (height) of the nasal tip gives a more refined and balanced look. Cartilage grafting is used to give more definition as needed. Surgery has evolved over the past decade where less cartilage is removed and more is reshaped. This gives long lasting support and results. Because the overlying skin envelope is thin, any changes made to the bony and cartilaginous framework of the nose is visibly noticeable. In Asians, grafting (septum, ear, rib and sometimes synthetic implants) are used to build up the nasal bridge and cartilage is used to add support and definition to the nasal tip. It is always preferable to use grafting material from the body and avoid synthetic materials which can get infected years later. The nostrils are often reduced in size by removing a wedge of skin (alar base reduction). Because the overlying skin is thick, some of the changes to the tip cartilage are not as visible as in Caucasians and it is not possible to have the same type of sculpted nasal tip appearance. In both cases, the goal is for a natural result.

The anatomy does differ between different ethnicities and even within each ethnic group. Each nose has to be analyzed on its own merit and a customized surgical plan determined based on the patient's goals and objectives.  As a loose general rule, Asian and African-American noses tend to require augmentation in the dorsum and narrowing of the tip and nostrils.  Delicate maneuvers are required to achieve ethnically appropriate outcomes.

While every rhinoplasty is unique there are fundamental differences between Asian Rhinoplasty and Caucasian Rhinoplasty.  The main differences have been discussed by many of the  other surgeons.  In general Asian Rhinoplasty like African American Rhinoplasty require augmentation and addition to the nasal structure.  This involves grafting of cartilage or use of synthetic grade implants to raise the bridge and strengthen the nasal tip complex.  Caucasian Rhinoplasty in general often involves reduction of nasal cartilage and or bone to create a better proportioned nose.

Asian noses mainly requiring augmentation - of the tip and bridge area, and occasionally narrowing the nostrils. Caucasian rhinoplasty generally consists of doing the exact opposite.

The trend now is to avoid silicone implants, but rather to use your own tissues to build up the tip and bridge area in order to minimize late problems with silicone. Most primary noses can be peformed in this manner using tissue from your ear and septum without the need for rib cartilage.

Asian Rhinoplasty or oriental nose surgery is different than caucasian rhinoplasty. Often times it involves augmenting the nasal dorsum or the bridge, rasing nasal tip, refining nasal tip, and narrowing and refining the flarred nasal Ala. Make sure that if you are considering Asian Rhinoplasty your plastic surgeon is board certified and has had ample experience in rhinoplasty on Asians in Los Angeles.