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Rhinoplasty in St. Louis

Ethnic Rhinoplasty

What ethnic rhinoplasty means, how rib cartilage is used for augmentation, and Dr. Namin's philosophy on preserving ethnic identity in St. Louis.

Patient education by
Arya Namin, MD, FACS

What Is Ethnic Rhinoplasty?

Ethnic rhinoplasty is a term generally used to describe augmentation rhinoplasty. Many patients undergo rhinoplasty to reduce the size of the nose, particularly to lower the dorsum and refine the tip. Patients of Asian and African descent, however, more often seek augmentation. Many individuals of Asian or African descent have a low dorsum (the bridge of the nose) and limited tip projection. In ethnic rhinoplasty, rib cartilage is commonly used to add height to the dorsum and increase tip projection, and tip refinement can often be achieved at the same time. Rib cartilage is the most common source of cartilage used in ethnic rhinoplasty.

Dr. Namin’s Philosophy

The decision to undergo rhinoplasty is deeply personal, and in ethnic rhinoplasty even more so. It is important to understand that the goal is never to change a person’s ethnic appearance. Dr. Namin will take the time to discuss your goals and pinpoint the specific changes you want, which is essential, because they vary significantly from one patient to the next.

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