Ethnic rhinoplasty Tunisia

The unique qualities of an African nose

It would be naive to say any quality is present in all African noses. There are certain characteristics that tend to be more common in African noses that should be identified by a rhinoplasty specialist. The Dr. examines the noses of all of his African patients for the following unique qualities:

• Thickness of the nasal skin. African skin can be thicker, inelastic, and sebaceous. Thick skin can prevent definition of the nose.
• Length of the nasal bone. African may have shorter nasal bones. Short nasal bones do not support the nose well. Additional supporting grafts must be placed into the nose to prevent collapse many years after the surgery.
• Definition of the nasal tip. African nasal tip is commonly poorly defined and droops. The tip will require special maneuvers to achieve definition,although this may be limited due to thick skin.
• Size of the nose. The African nose may be small when looking at the profile because it may not stick out far from the face. In this case, the nose actually may have to be made BIGGER so that it appears SMALLER. This point is often hard for the patient to understand, but the Dr. will explain this concept in further detail during a consultation.
• Size of the nostrils. If the nostrils are wide and flared, then the nostrils may need to be narrowed with an alar base reduction procedure.
• Support of the nose. The cartilage in the nose may be weak. Since the nose has to last a lifetime, the nasal structure must be strengthened so that the nose does not change over time.

Before and after the Ethnic Rhinoplasty

The Ethnic nose surgery is more of a reconstructive surgery when compared to non-ethnic rhinoplasties. A bony and cartilaginous framework supports the nose. The cartilages in African are weaker and require support, including:

• Cartilage from the nose and other areas of the body added to support the nose and tip
• Nose built up from the profile view with the addition of more cartilage

The nostrils are typically narrowed with incisions made in the creases of the nose. They are placed in this location to hide the delicate incision lines. During surgery, the surgeon uses special sutures and grafts to define the nasal tip.

Cartilage collection locations to support and build up the nose

Cartilage is harvested from other areas of the body and then used to support and rebuild the nose. Cartilage can be harvested from the following 3 locations:

• 1) The nasal septum – The cartilage that separates the right and left nasal passageway.
• 2) The ear – The incision is hidden behind the ear. There is very little perceived change in the ear.
• 3) Rib – On noses that require a considerable amount of cartilage, a small piece of a rib can be harvested. This is only used if necessary.

Often patients ask for an implant, such as silicone or Gore-Tex, to help build and strengthen the nose. While this will make the surgery easier for the surgeon, he rarely places unnatural permanent products into the nose during an African rhinoplasty in Charlotte due to the higher risk of complications.