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Facial Plast Surg 2003; 19(3): 269-278
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-43162
Copyright © 2003 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Ethnic Nose

Thomas Romo, III1,2,3 , Manoj T. Abraham1
  • 1Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital
  • 2Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
  • 3Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York Medical College, New York, NY
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 October 2003 (online)

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ABSTRACT

There are distinctive anatomical differences between the non-Caucasian (platyrrhine, mesorrhine) nose and the Caucasian (leptorrhine) nose. In general, non-Caucasian patients requesting aesthetic rhinoplasty desire improvement and refinement of their noses with preservation of defining ethnic characteristics. Surgeons who perform rhinoplasty in this patient population must be familiar with the variations in nasal anatomy and implement augmentation rather than reduction techniques to achieve the desired aesthetic and functional outcomes. We provide a brief review of recent historical trends in ethnic rhinoplasty, highlight relevant anatomical differences, and describe our strategy for addressing the challenges of ethnic rhinoplasty.

KEYWORDS

Platyrrhine - mesorrhine - non-Caucasian - cosmetic nasal reconstruction

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