Rhinoplasty performed on Asians has the same goal as rhinoplasty performed on Caucasians, which is to build a natural-appearing structure that blends harmoniously with the face. Usually, Asians require augmentation of the nose, while Caucasians usually require reduction. Southeast Asians (Filipino, Malay, southern Chinese) typically require the most augmentation.
In Filipinos and other Asians, the nasal bridge is often low. The nasal tip is also low and thick, and the base of the nose is wide. Hence the most commonly requested nasal surgery in the Philippines is the “noselift.” Most Filipino plastic surgeons use solid silicone L-shaped implants in order to increase the height of the nasal bridge and to increase the projection of the nasal tip. The bend of the L forms the new tip. The skillful surgeon takes great care in creating the look and feel that is most suitable to your face and features. Implants are individually sculpted to personally suit the shape of your face, resulting in a more “natural” look.
American plastic surgeons generally prefer the use of cartilage grafts or bone grafts to augment the nasal bridge and tip. However these kinds of grafts have been known to resorb and decrease in size over a period of time. Filipino patients also do not want an extra operation on another part of their body in order to harvest cartilage or bone. Also, most American patients request reduction rhinoplasty for large noses and hence American plastic surgeons have less experience performing noselifts.
Many Asian patients will also need an alar plasty operation to decrease the wide nasal base. A skillful surgeon will use a technique to remove small wedges of skin to bring the nostrils closer together and which will result in natural looking nostrils.