Asian rhinoplasty refers to nasal surgery customized to enhance the look and/or function of the nose while respecting the unique characteristics of individuals whose ancestors were from—or who themselves are native to—China, Japan, South Korea, and various other nations of Asia. Though everyone has his or her own personal motivations for surgery, some common cosmetic and functional preferences shared by many patients seeking Asian rhinoplasty include:
- A heightened and/or narrowed nasal bridge – Several women and men wish to raise and/or narrow the nasal bridge to give height and definition to a “flattened” nose, as well as achieve improved nasal-facial balance.
- A more prominent nose – A number of individuals aim to widen and/or increase the length of the nose to make it more proportionate with the overall shape of their face.
- A refined nasal tip – Many people desire to improve nasal tip definition to enhance the projection of the nose.
- Narrower nostrils – Certain patients want to reduce the width and base of the nostrils to lessen the appearance of “flaring.”
- Improved nasal breathing – Some individuals seek to repair a deviated septum and/or other structural problems in order to breathe better through the nose.
To reiterate, these are simply a few of the numerous reasons someone might consider Asian rhinoplasty—it is not an all-encompassing list. In order to completely understand each individual’s specific motivation(s) for treatment, Fort Worth plastic surgeon Jon Kurkjian, MD utilizes state-of-the-art VECTRA® 3D imaging during the consultation process for Asian rhinoplasty. With this state-of-the-art technology, he is able to project a three dimensional image of your face onto a chairside monitor, enabling you to precisely point out what bothers you about your nose while also better describing how you would like it to ultimately appear. Based on this discussion, Dr. Kurkjian can digitally modify your nose to show what can realistically be achieved via surgery, as well as provide you a good idea of how you may look post-treatment with various nasal adjustments. Just as importantly, VECTRA® imaging also helps to make sure both you and Dr. Kurkjian are on the same page in regard to your needs, goals, treatment plan, and proposed end result.
Due to the fact that typical nasal characteristics often differ from country to country and region to region across Asia, the exact technique—or combination of techniques—employed for Asian rhinoplasty will often vary by patient based on his or her ancestry. For example, the most appropriate approach for someone of Vietnamese descent will likely be a bit different than the best approach for someone of Korean descent. Having said that, there are some overarching elements that are applicable to most Asian rhinoplasty patients, all of which will be taken into consideration prior to, during, and following treatment.
One such element of consideration is skin thickness. Generally speaking, individuals of Asian descent have relatively thick skin, often requiring a combination of surgical and non-surgical care to achieve optimal results. When this is the case, Dr. Kurkjian will typically instruct patients to employ a medical-grade skin care regimen before and after their procedure, and he will frequently utilize thinning—or “de-fatting—techniques beneath the skin during the actual surgery. When this approach is not taken, structural alterations made to the nose might not be as visible following treatment, possibly even resulting in minimal to no noticeable nasal improvement.
Another surgical method often utilized for Asian rhinoplasty is diced cartilage fascia grafting, which can increase the height of the nose to make it appear narrower and more in balance with the face. This technique involves removing a deep layer of mastoid fascia from behind the ear or temporal fascia from the scalp, and wrapping it around small pieces of cartilage to create natural “implants” that can be strategically placed to achieve a heightened nasal bridge profile. Because these grafts are composed of a patient’s own tissue, the risk of infection is significantly diminished in comparison to using silicone or silastic implants—the latter or which is notorious for high rates of infection and even malposition.
When nasal lengthening is indicated during Asian rhinoplasty, Dr. Kurkjian typically uses a columellar strut or septal extension graft in combination with a diced cartilage fascia graft, effectively extending the length of the nose while also strengthening the native cartilage. If needed, he may also perform alar base reduction to make the nostrils smaller and in better proportion to the rest of the nose.
Ultimately—and regardless of what techniques or nasal adjustments are viewed as “common” or “typical” for Asian rhinoplasty patients—Dr. Kurkjian always tailors surgery to align with the unique needs and goals of each individual. By doing so, he is able to create an end result that looks completely natural, functions optimally, and still preserves the distinct characteristics of one’s heritage.
Get Additional Details About Rhinoplasty
For information regarding candidacy, recovery, cost, and more, we invite you to visit our main page devoted to rhinoplasty. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in Asian rhinoplasty and wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kurkjian, please feel free to contact our practice online or by telephone today.
