The nasal bridge is one of the nose’s main support structures and is responsible for much of the nose’s aesthetic appearance. This is especially true among African American individuals, who are more likely to have a wide nasal base and low bridge due to their heritage. A low bridge combined with a wide base makes the nose appear distinctly wider and can be a source of dissatisfaction. A plastic surgeon skilled in Toronto African American rhinoplasty is able to reduce the width of the bridge while preserving the unique features that mark ethnic identity.
Raising The Bridge
Narrowing the nasal bridge is a matter of moving the bones inwards, but doing this too much can affect airflow. Therefore, other techniques are mixed in to maximize narrowing. One of the ways to make a bridge look narrower is to raise the top portion. This causes a pyramid-like effect where the top appears to be the narrowest part.
For the purposes of rhinoplasty, Toronto African Americans actually have an advantage in this area since their nasal bridges are more likely to be lower and have a shallower radix (the part where the nose and forehead meet) than those of other backgrounds. This means that the bridge does not need to be raised as much to produce the desired effect.
Raising the bridge is usually accomplished by adding on additional cartilage. This is not always possible for patients with African American backgrounds since their noses tend to have thinner cartilage and less structural support. Fortunately, experts in African American rhinoplasty in Toronto have developed alternative methods.
One alternative to adding onto the bone is repositioning the nostrils, by making them smaller while also narrowing the nasal tip. This makes the bridge look more raised without adding the weight of extra cartilage. If cartilage is to be added, it’s usually grafted in from another part of the body like the rib, earlobe, or septum (the wall between nostrils). A Gortex implant can also used for added structural support on the nasal bridge if harvesting a graft is not a viable option.
Balancing Identity & Outcome
Every nose is different and it is best practice to develop individualized plans for each patient’s rhinoplasty based on their facial harmony and their stated goals. Your rhinoplasty surgeon should not be using a formulaic approach and should create a surgical plan based on your individual circumstance and physiology.
An experienced and skilled rhinoplasty surgeon such as Dr. Philip Solomon, an Otolaryngologist Head and Neck Surgeon practicing Facial Plastic Surgery in Toronto for 20 years, will allow them to devise procedures that are natural and harmonious with existing ethnic features. Patients can then enjoy improvements to their appearance without fear of being stripped of nationality or cultural identity.
Managing Expectations
It is important to maintain healthy expectations when pursuing cosmetic surgery. Perfection is rare but improvement is common. This can be easily seen when looking through different before-and-after photographs. Every face has its own subtleties and nuances that surgeons must balance and accommodate to deliver the best outcome. Speak with your plastic surgeon during the consultation about how their approach will respect and preserve your unique ethnic features.
Oct 04th 2019
