Question:
I’m Asian American and would like to undergo rhinoplasty. Are there any specific risks associated with Asians?
Answer:
The additional risks that Asian patients may have during any rhinoplasty procedure has to do with the pigment of the skin and the strength of the nasal cartilages. Darker pigmented skin can heal with discoloration if the skin is treated too aggressively such as during defatting of the nasal tip during rhinoplasty. There is also a remote chance that the incisional scars will be slightly more visible than in someone with fair skin. Asian nasal cartilage tends to be slightly weaker than the nasal cartilage found in Caucasion noses and prior knowledge of this helps your surgeon better understand the additional surgical steps that will be required to adequately create the nasal appearance you expect following your rhinoplasty. I am not familiar with any additional risks of bleeding or infection associated with Asian noses in rhinoplasty.
Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld