Ethnic Rhinoplasty

If you are of ethnic background, your nose can be representative of your heritage. You want to refine your appearance, without losing who you are. Ethnic rhinoplasty takes into account specific qualities that must remain to avoid stripping you of your nationality and personality.

A successful rhinoplasty starts with selecting the right surgeon. Your surgery must be performed by a surgeon with an intimate understanding of how to create shapes and forms that are compatible to your face, someone who understands how to accentuate your best features and give your face an overall balanced and harmonious appearance. This is particularly important for patients of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, or Hispanic descent.

As a highly trained head and neck surgeon with extensive education in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Farhood is among the most qualified ethnic rhinoplasty surgeons in Seattle. The fact that he is also of ethnic descent himself gives him a high level of insight into the needs and desires of his patients and an added advantage in the area of ethnic rhinoplasty.

Latino Rhinoplasty

Latino patients represent a diverse combination of European and Native American DNA. This patient population may present with any combination of thick nasal skin, a drooping tip, wide nostrils, and/or a dorsal hump. Increasing definition of the nose by carefully addressing these unique characteristics will help give a more refined, contoured appearance that harmonizes with the rest of the face

Middle Eastern Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a very popular and accepted procedure among certain ethnic groups. For example, in the Middle East rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. Renowned for their beauty and good looks, rhinoplasty is a sought after and widely accepted refinement of the face for these individuals. Often times, taking down a hump on the nose, and narrowing the tip and nostrils slightly can make a huge difference.

African-American Rhinoplasty

African-American rhinoplasty is another common subtype of ethnic rhinoplasty that has its own individual nuances. In the African community the size and shape of the nose tends to vary considerably from one patient to the next. This heavily dependent upon whether they are descendants of North, East, or West Africa. The patients who are of Caribbean or South American background also have distinctive features about their nose. In general, African-American patients have thicker skin, softer cartilage framework, and a wider or flatter nose. These patients often seek refinement of the tip and nostril reshaping through a procedure known as alar base narrowing.

Asian Rhinoplasty

Other common ethnic groups that commonly undergo nasal reshaping include patients of Asian background. Patients coming from China, Korea, the Philippines, and other parts of Asia often seek more definition of the bridge of the nose, increased tip refinement and support, and nostril or alar base narrowing. Some surgeons use silicone or Goretex implants to help build up the bridge of the nose and support the tip, but having seen complications with foreign materials such as infection and rejection, Dr. Farhood believes the best material to use is your own body’s cartilage. When needed, Dr. Farhood uses either septal cartilage or cartilage from the ear or ribs to create grafts that help build the structure of the nose for a long-lasting result.

Planning Ethnic rhinoplasty surgery

One of the critical points in a successful ethnic rhinoplasty lies in the degree of attention paid to surgical planning. Depending upon the structural and cosmetic problems to be addressed, a comprehensive, custom surgical plan is necessary in accomplishing truly beautiful results. Dr. Farhood is known for his exceptional talent in performing ethnic rhinoplasty, and his artistry in creating the perfect balance for patients from various ethnic backgrounds, and for his consistently outstanding results that enhance the entire facial structure and features of the individual.

Frequently asked questions

  • Common sources of grafting for ethnic rhinoplasty are the septum, ear, and rib. Dr. Farhood may use your own (autologous) rib or a donor (cadaveric) rib based on your individual needs. He is one of the few surgeons in the region skilled at harvesting the patient’s own rib.