African American Nose

The Problem

The patient desires an aesthetic change of the African American nose.

The Background

The African American nose has unique features such as a wide nasal base with a wide nasal sill, flaring alar, wide nasal bridge, and weak nasal tip. With more acceptance in cosmetic surgery in the African American community, there is a desire to change the facial structures to more closely resemble Caucasian features without removing all signs of ethnicity. All of these changes are part of any standard rhinoplasty.

The Indications

It is important that a patient fully understands the features of their own nose and has the ability to express the desired changes to a rhinoplasty surgeon. The surgeon must clearly understand these changes and have the knowledge, experience, and skill to make the surgical alterations needed to reach the patient’s desired results. This knowledge includes techniques to increase the nasal tip, narrow the wide nasal base, narrow the bridge, shorten the nasal length, and if necessary, to build up the nasal dorsum.

The Patients