Rhinoplasty in the African American patient can be a more challenging procedure for various reasons. Dr. Thomassen performs this procedure in his office in Fort Lauderdale. There are several factors that need to be considered to obtain the best possible result.
Skin Quality
The skin envelope may be a bit thicker. This can make the changes in the cartilage and bone structure less apparent after surgery. It may also require more time to see these results as the thicker skin envelope swells for a longer time.
To address this, the envelope can be thinned judiciously at the time of surgery. This must be done very carefully. The blood supply to the tip of the skin should not be interrupted. To reduce postop swelling, the use of oral and injectable steroids can be used to limit the inflammatory process. Taping the nose for a slightly longer period can also accelerate the resolution of swelling. We would caution patient’s at risk of swelling to expect a slightly longer recovery period. Final results may not be evident for 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Structural Support
Frequently, these patients will benefit from added bridge and tip projection. This requires additional cartilage to help build up these areas. Unfortunately, in these patients, the lack of adequate septal cartilage from the nose may require accessing ear or rib cartilage.
The use of rib cartilage involves an additional surgical site, with associated pain and recovery.
A new option that has revolutionized the rhinoplasty field is the availability of cadaveric fresh frozen cartilage. This is ordered prior to the procedure and provides ample cartilage to reconstruct a tip and bridge projection.
Healing
Finally, the increased width of the tip and nose base causes challenges. Reducing the alar base with skin excision can lead to more scarring. There is also a risk for hypertrophic scars.
To avoid hypertrophic scarring, the careful suturing of alar base skin excisions can result in almost imperceptible scars. Using careful suturing and cinching techniques, a narrower alar base can be obtained with minimal scarring.
African American Rhinoplasty Costs
The cost for rhinoplasty surgery varies if the complexity of the surgery means it may require more time to accomplish. Only with a complete history and physical exam will a proper understanding of the surgery needed is possible. You can find cost estimates for surgery at the American Society of Plastic Surgery website.
Some of Dr. Thomassen’s Results
Successful Outcomes can be Obtained
With this understanding, an African American rhinoplasty can result in satisfying and predictable results for our patients. You can learn more about this procedure in the following article.
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