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The nose is the central feature of the face; therefore it can easilyenhance or detract from one's overall facial aesthetics. In its 2005 survey,the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found thatrhinoplasty was the most common cosmetic procedure in the African Americanpopulation averaging at 65%. "Rhinoplasty, a procedure that was sometimes usedin an attempt to make an African American nose look more Caucasian, hasevolved a great deal as societal understanding of ethnic beauty and surgicaltechniques for ethnic features have improved," Dr. Slupchynskyj reports. "Asurgeon performing African American rhinoplasty should be aware of, and beable to distinguish, the various standards of beauty present in differentethnic groups; only then s/he can work to enhance ethnic features, as opposedto changing them to fit inappropriate standards of beauty."
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In this study, all 75 African American patients sought: 1) nasal dorsalaugmentation for inadequate nasal dorsal height; 2) elevation of a low ordepressed nasal-frontal angle; 3) refinement of a poorly defined, rounded orbulbous nasal tip; 4) reduction of nasal width both horizontally andvertically. To address these common issues the three-tiered approach toAfrican American rhinoplasty was used in all 75, and Dr. Slupchynskyj found itto be a technique that yields great patient satisfaction, allows formaintenance of ethnic features, and yields a minimal rate of complications.This three-tiered approach enhances the equilibrium of the nose and face byincreasing dorsal height, lessens nasal flare, and increases tip refinementand projection, while maintaining ethnic characteristics. "According to theresults of our study, the majority of patients indicated a low, if any, changein ethnic characteristics," said Dr. Slupchynskyj. Concurrently, whenaddressing patient satisfaction with the result of this technique, anoverwhelming number of patients indicated average or above-averagesatisfaction with their result. Finally, Dr. Slupchynskyj states, "When thehigh increase in self-esteem due to this procedure is considered with ourstudy results, we can indicate this technique as one that successfullyaddresses concerns of African American patients seeking rhinoplasty surgery.African American patients are not looking to change their ethnic features;they seek satisfaction from a nose that is in harmony with the remainder oftheir facial features."
The Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery is the official publication for TheAmerican Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Inc., TheEuropean Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and The International Federationof Facial Plastic Surgery Societies.
Oleh Slupchynskyj, M.D. is the Director and Founder of The AestheticFacial Surgery Institute of New York and New Jersey with offices in Manhattanand West Orange and has been in private practice for over 10 years. Born andraised in Manhattan, Dr. Slupchynskyj is double board certified through theAmerican Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board ofOtolaryngology with training specific to the head, neck and face. He is namedone of the top plastic surgeons of 2007 by the Consumers' Research Council ofAmerica and is considered a face specialist. His SLUPLift mini-lift wasrecently featured on CBS2 News. He has also been featured on NY1News, The NewYork Daily News, Vogue, Woman's World, Gotham, Redbook, Jane and Time Out NY.He is a member of the following Societies: Amer
