Most African-American/black rhinoplasty (“nose job”) patients seek to improve the appearance of their nose without erasing their heritage and identity.Typically, requests include lifting the bridge, narrowing the nostrils, and enhancing the profile. 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. A plastic surgeon needs to be aware of the fact that African-Americans 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, African-American nasal bones are comparatively short, requiring special care.
About Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is a cosmetic surgery that improves the appearance of the outside of the nose. While typically it can remove a bump and lift the tip, in African American 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 plastic surgery can significantly and permanently increase the projection of a flat nose, narrow and define the tip.
During a rhinoplasty procedure, 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, African-Americans often have very large turbinates which can limit airflow. Sociologically, large turbinates may have been a benefit for blacks living in Africa, since the climate is dry and the turbinates function to provide humidification. 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, and 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 in New York City who seek revisions of a previous cosmetic procedure. Revision rhinoplasty can be challenging because the plastic 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, whether it is functional or cosmetic surgery, at any age to improve their appearance or restore it following an injury.
The Procedure
Rhinoplasty or nose job surgery can be performed in Dr. Yagoda’s New York City office-based surgical facility or in a NYC hospital, under local anesthetic with IV sedation or under general anesthesia. This plastic surgery procedure takes between 45 minutes and two hours. The exact surgical technique is uniquely tailored by the plastic surgeon 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 after your plastic surgery 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 this plastic surgery procedure in full during your consultation in her New York City office.
To determine if rhinoplasty might be right for you, call our NYC office to schedule your complimentary consultation with facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Yagoda.
Read about Dr. Yagoda’s Integrative Post Operative Care Program
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