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| Nose reshaping, the number one cosmetic plastic surgery procedure, has become popular in people of all races, particularly African-Americans. The general notion of a "standard of beauty," however, has stepped aside, encouraging African-Americans to retain their unique ethnic characteristics while improving their overall look, according to an article published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Similarly, due to the diversity of ethnicities that make up the Hispanic population, nose reshaping is not a "one size fits all" solution for Latinas interested in plastic surgery of the nose. Because of the varied backgrounds and the enormous anatomical diversity, Hispanic nose reshaping can be classified into three types, each of which require a different surgical approach. The "Mestizo" nose is a mixture of the European and Indian populations. The "Castilian" nose represents a Spanish European nose with characteristics most resembling the Caucasian nose, while the "Mexican American" nose represents a combination of the Mestizo and Castilian nose. (Related article: Plastic surgery for Hispanic men and women)
With this shift in attitude, plastic surgeons who appreciate ethnic concepts of beauty and the unique anatomic characteristics of the African-American nose can create the most consistent and best results, the study maintains. "The beauty of our patients’ ethnicity should shine through after nose reshaping, not be suppressed," said Rod Rohrich, MD, co-author of the study. (Related: Jaqueline Fleming) Standards of beauty infused in our society from mass media are, in general, those of Northern Europe. These nasal aesthetics are characterized by a straight, narrow bridge, a well-defined projecting nasal tip and refined nostrils. The African-American nose generally has a wide, depressed bridge, a poorly defined tip and flared nostrils, according to Dr. Rohrich. "Clearly, if the standards of Caucasian beauty were applied to African-American patients, unrealistic expectations may occur with inconsistent results," commented Dr. Rohrich. "Therefore, plastic surgeons treating African-American patients must understand what constitutes the characteristics of the African-American nose and how it relates to the African-American face, allowing them to achieve results that work best with those features." (Related article: Liposuction and tummy tucks are the most popular procedures)
For a successful procedure, it is imperative that surgeons first assess whether the African American patient wants to look more like the "accepted standard of beauty" or achieve a more attractive nose without losing ethnic character, according to the study. This preoperative patient assessment can avoid postoperative issues caused by patient misunderstanding. Clarifying this objective will help the surgeon determine preoperatively if the patient has realistic surgical goals. (Related: S implant for nose in African Americans)
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