Special Consideration in Rhinoplasty for Deformed Nose of East Asians

The use of race-based terminology in the rhinoplasty literature

“…This table summarizes the commonly noted physical traits of patients of African descent, of Asian descent, Mestizo patients and Caucasian patients discussed in the rhinoplasty literature [9,12 ▪ ,17 ▪▪ ,19 ▪▪ ,26,30 ▪ ,32 ▪▪ ]. It is important to note that not all patients of a given race will have these physical characteristics.…”

“…Because of the high number of rhinoplasties performed in East Asia, there is an abundance of publications on this population. Most authors highlight mesorrhine features similar to Mestizo patients (Table 1): low radix, possibility for a severely low/concave dorsum or convex dorsum, wide dorsum, wide alar base with poorly projected and defined nasal tip [28–30 ▪ ,32 ▪▪ ,33]. Dorsal augmentation is one of the most common techniques performed during rhinoplasty on these patients using both alloplasts and allografts [30 ▪ ].…”

“…Dorsal augmentation is one of the most common techniques performed during rhinoplasty on these patients using both alloplasts and allografts [30 ▪ ]. A review of the literature quickly shows that articles are frequently indexed both by race and anatomic challenge/surgical maneuvers[29,30 ▪ ,32 ▪▪ ]. Titles such as ‘Lengthening of the Asian Nose’ [30 ▪ ], and ‘Correcting Wide Alar Base and Flare With Combined Sill and Alar Excision in Asian Patients’ [33] are appropriately descriptive because they include a target population with a specific physical trait.…”