Question: I’m of Middle Eastern decent and interested in undergoing rhinoplasty. However, I’m concerned that giving me that perky, ski-jump nose would not fit with my ethnic features. How do you preserve the ethnicity of the nose while refining its appearance?
Answer: Good cosmetic surgery question! Each person’s nose must fit their face. This takes into account facial features such as chin, cheek and forehead proportions as well as skin thickness and color. But ethnicity, age and sex as well as height of the patient are also important factors. Too often, average plastic surgeons do a “bread and butter” nose job and give everyone the same nose. That is the wrong approach. After I examine my patients, either in my Northern Virginia office or in Chevy Chase Maryland, I use computer imaging to discuss their options. Some like a very straight bridge and profile and others prefer a slightly curved or sloped profile and yet others really rather maintain a little bit of their dorsal hump while reducing it significantly. There are things I will not do. I will not agree to create a nose like Michael Jacksons or a fake looking pinched nose that is hard to breath out of no matter how badly they think they want that. Those are the cosmetic surgery patients that I try to guide and inform or even talk out of a rhinoplasty. But a natural yet pretty nose is very realistic as is a slightly more Barbie Doll type of nose as long as it’s a safe nose. Using computer imaging we can discuss your goals and choose the proper rhinoplasty for you.
