Ethnic Considerations in the International Rhinoplasty Patient

Abstract

Program Description: Cosmetic rhinoplasty has grown in demand over the years. Because of migration patterns around the world, specialists who perform rhinoplasties will frequently be performing surgery on patients coming from different ethnic groups. Characteristic ethnic features can be hard to define and it can be very difficult to try and “fit” a patient in a specific geographical group. Rhinoplasty in ethnic patients, no matter where they come from, will involve most of the usual techniques that are employed in rhinoplasty. However, how the patient is evaluated, what problems are encountered, and what possible solutions are offered make it a challenging operation. The goal in rhinoplasty today is to achieve a natural non-operated looking nose that will blend in with the patient’s face preserving its main ethnic features. Radical changes in appearance have been replaced by techniques that offer refinement and will provide stable long term results. This panel of experts coming from different countries around the world will be showing the audience how they approach the different types of ethnic patients. The discussion will focus on specific problems encountered and how they are approached surgically. Demonstrative cases showing pre- and postsurgical results with intraoperative photographs and videos on the different surgical techniques used will be shown. At the end of each presentation panelists will be showing the attendees how they try to prevent complications on their specific patients. Some final controversies regarding patient satisfaction and revision cases will be discussed at the end of the session.

Educational Objectives: 1) Identify the main anatomic and aesthetic differences encountered in ethnic groups around the world. 2) Be able to identify problems encountered in ethnic noses and establish possible surgical solutions. 3) Acquire a general overview on the prevention and management of possible complications.