The Asian Nose: Augmentation Rhinoplasty with L-Shaped Silicone Implants

ABSTRACT

Few procedures in facial plastic surgery elicit the controversy that surrounds augmentation of the Asian nose. Asian surgeons generally advocate augmentation with custom-fabricated silicone prostheses, a technique that Western surgeons, who strongly recommend autogenous material, condemn as inherently dangerous. Analysis of the evidence relating to augmentation with silicone prostheses suggests that there is little factual support for Western dogma and indicates that, when properly executed, augmentation with silicone implants yields reliable and consistently superior aesthetic results. A detailed blueprint for execution of augmentation rhinoplasty with custom- fabricated silicone implants is provided.

KEYWORD

Asian - rhinoplasty - silicone

SUGGESTED READINGS

• 1 Hiraga Y. Complications of augmentation rhinoplasty in the Japanese.  Ann Plast Surg . 1980;  4 495-499
• 2 Ham K S. Complications of oriental augmentation rhinoplasty.  Ann Acad Med . 1983;  12 406-462
• 3 Deva A K. Silicone in nasal augmentation rhinoplasty: a decade of experience.  Plast Reconstr Surg . 1998;  102 1230-1237

1 *The term Asian refers to individuals of Eastern Asian ancestry, the part of the world previously known as the Orient. Geographically (and genetically) Asia is divided into three areas: Western Asia, Central Asia, and Eastern Asia. Natives of Western Asia are genetically Caucasian, and the indigenous peoples of Central Asia exhibit various mixtures of Caucasian and Mongoloid traits