Hispanic rhinoplasty is a term that encompasses nasal surgery for individuals of many different Spanish and Latino backgrounds, including people from—or whose ancestors were from—Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and various Carribbean island nations. While the exact reasons for pursuing treatment are entirely unique to every person, some of the most common cosmetic and functional desires shared by many Hispanic rhinoplasty patients include:
- Narrowing various parts of the nose – Some individuals wish to reduce the width or size of their nasal tip, nostrils, and/or nasal bridge to blend more harmoniously with the rest of their features and overall facial aesthetic.
- Reducing a dorsal hump – Several patients seek to refine their dorsal hump to achieve either a straight nasal bridge or curved nasal bridge.
- Defining the nasal tip – Many individuals desire to improve the definition and contour of the nasal tip for enhanced projection and/or a more proportionate appearance.
- Improved nasal breathing – Some patients want to correct a deviated septum, weakend nostrils, and/or other structural nasal issues to enhance their ability to breathe through the nose.
Again, these are merely a few of the numerous reasons patients seek Hispanic rhinoplasty. To account for the fact that every individual has his or her own motivations and goals, our board-certified plastic surgeon—Jon Kurkjian, MD—uses VECTRA® 3D imaging during the consultation process. With this advanced system, he can display a three dimensional picture of your face on a chairside computer monitor, allowing you to pinpoint the exact concerns you have with your nose, as well as describe what you would like to see changed. The technology also enables Dr. Kurkjian to make digital modifications to your actual nose based on what you describe and what can realistically be achieved. In addition to helping you identify your ideal nasal profile and visualize your potential results, this process aids in making certain you and Dr. Kurkjian are on the same page in regard to your needs and goals, ultimately providing you peace of mind about your proposed treatment and final outcome.
Since typical nasal anatomy and characteristics tend to vary based on specific countries and/or regions of the world, the combination of techniques utilized to perform Hispanic rhinoplasty will often differ based on the particular ancestry of the patient (for example, the techniques best-suited for someone of Mexican descent may be slightly different than those most appropriate for someone of Argentinian descent). That said, there are certain elements and considerations that apply to the majority of Hispanic rhinoplasty patients, which will be taken into account before, during, and after surgery.
One such consideration is skin thickness. Individuals of Spanish and Latino heritage sometimes have thicker skin, which may require both non-surgical and surgical attention in order to achieve the best result possible. When this is the case, Dr. Kurkjian will recommend medical-grade skin care products be utilized leading up to and following surgery, and he may also employ certain thinning or “de-fatting” techniques on the underside of the skin during the actual procedure. Failure to properly address skin thickness in these instances can lead to an inability to see enhancements made to the underlying nasal framework, potentially resulting in little to no visible changes in the appearance of the nose.
Regarding the surgery itself, Dr. Kurkjian usually performs Hispanic rhinoplasty using an open approach. Though the intricacies of each procedure are fully customized, he frequently employs cartilage grafts that provide more definition than those typically utilized for patients of other ethnicities in order to help augment and improve the contour of native cartilage in certain areas of the nose. For instance, the radix (where the nose first comes off the face at the top of the nasal bridge) is often underprojected in Hispanic rhinoplasty patients, which can create the appearance of a dorsal hump. By placing radix grafts above the hump, the nose will appear higher and more balanced on the face, effectively reducing the perceived dorsal hump—an enhancement that can be easily demonstrated and better visualized with VECTRA® imaging during the consultation process.
In addition to radix grafts, Dr. Kurkjian commonly utilizes shield grafts to improve the shape of the nasal tip, and he often places special focus on supporting the alar rims (outer part of the nostrils) to ensure the nostrils are as symmetrical as possible and maintain good structural support for optimal nasal breathing after surgery.
Ultimately, Dr. Kurkjian’s end goal for Hispanic rhinoplasty is to improve the look and/or function of the nose while preserving the distinctive characteristics of your heritage—the result should always appear as if you had been born naturally with the nasal contour achieved via rhinoplasty.
Learn More About Rhinoplasty
For details about recovery, cost, and more, we encourage you to visit our main page on rhinoplasty. If you have any additional questions about Hispanic rhinoplasty, or if you wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kurkjian, please feel free to reach out to our practice online or by telephone today.
