Asian Rhinoplasty

Most Asian rhinoplasty (“nose job”) patients seek to improve the appearance of their nose without erasing their heritage and identity. It takes skill and sensitivity to achieve a cosmetic result that beautifies the face while respecting and preserving ethnicity.

There are technical challenges when refining an ethnic nose that deserve special consideration. Asians often have broader and somewhat flatter noses than Europeans. They also have thicker skin (as do Hispanics) and this makes refining the nasal tip more challenging. In addition, Asian nasal bones are comparatively short, requiring special care.

About Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that improves the appearance of the outside of the nose. While typically it can remove a bump and lift the tip, in Asian rhinoplasty, there is more commonly a focus on lifting the bridge, narrowing the nostrils, and enhancing the profile. While some cosmetic improvements can be made with non-surgical rhinoplasty using injectable fillers and implants like Radiesse, only surgery can significantly and permanently increase the projection of a flat nose, narrow and define the tip. 

During rhinoplasty, a facial plastic surgeon who is also an otolaryngologist or ENT (a specialist who cares for the ears, nose, and throat) may also correct any structural defects of the nose. For example, Dr. Yagoda can straighten a deviated septum to improve airflow. Many people mistakenly believe that the size of the external nose will predict the size  of the airway.  Not true!  Airflow may be quite limited in those people with large noses; it may be copious in those with small noses.  Interestingly, Asians often have very large turbinates which can limit airflow.  No matter what your heritage, if done expertly, the end result of a rhinoplasty procedure will be a nose that not only looks better but works better too!

Because rhinoplasty can make such a dramatic difference in your appearance, because the nose has many intricate internal structures critical to its function, and because the procedure demands both excellent surgical skills and aesthetic judgment, Dr. Yagoda sees a number of patients who seek revisions of a previous procedure. Revision rhinoplasty can be challenging because the surgeon must work with the results of a previous procedure, creating a whole new layer of complication and potentially limiting the options for improvement. If you’re dissatisfied with a previous rhinoplasty, you’ll want to put yourself in the best possible hands.

Who Is a Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Young adults often seek rhinoplasty and Dr. Yagoda is often asked, “How old do I have to be before I can have this procedure?” From a purely physical standpoint, the answer is, “anytime after puberty.” Adults can have rhinoplasty performed at any age to improve their appearance or restore it following an injury.

The Procedure

Rhinoplasty can be performed in an office-based surgical facility or in a hospital, under local anesthetic with IV sedation or under general anesthesia. The procedure takes between 45 minutes and two hours. The exact surgical technique is uniquely tailored for each patient but most of the time, all incisions are made internally and there are no visible scars. Sometimes, an incision is made at the base of the nostrils and the incision is carefully hidden.

Recovery

You can return to work in about a week and you’ll be able to use a stationary bike or treadmill by the second week. By the third week, you can return to full activities. Although you’ll see immediate improvement, your nose’s shape and your profile will continue to refine over the next 12 to 18 months.

Risks

Like all surgery, rhinoplasty has certain risks including infection, bleeding, and reaction to anesthesia. Other risks include structural damage to the nose. Dr. Yagoda will discuss these potential risks as well as the benefits of rhinoplasty in full during your consultation.

To determine if rhinoplasty might be right for you, call our office to schedule your complimentary consultation with Dr. Yagoda.

Read about Dr. Yagoda's Integrative Post Operative Care Program