Primary Caucasian Female Rhinoplasty

Abstract

The nose plays a central role in determining overall facial aesthetics. Not only does the nose occupy the geographic center of the face, but its prominent relationship to neighboring structures creates a visual emphasis to the observer. For these reasons, surgical alteration of the nose is one of the most common elective facial cosmetic procedures. For many patients, this surgical pursuit comes from a desire for a more “Caucasian” nose. One must be careful when considering the established paradigm for rhinoplasty. Worldwide, there is an emphasis on achieving the classically Caucasian features of a thin nasal bridge, slender nostrils, and straight or slightly convex nasal profile. These standards of beauty have been established by a primarily Caucasian-dominated medical literature and world economy. With this caveat in mind, we will discuss the considerations and techniques utilized to expertly address the female Caucasian rhinoplasty patient, a population with a great deal of nasal variability. In this chapter, the Caucasian patient will refer to those of European ancestry, although the anthropological definition may be extended to some of Middle Eastern and North African descent.