Most Asian patients seeking rhinoplasty exhibit platyrrhine characteristics with a low dorsum and inadequate projection.
Typical reductive rhinoplasty techniques are not effective in managing the characteristic anatomy of the Asian patient.
Asian patients also tend to have weak lower lateral cartilages with thick sebaceous skin over the nasal tip, leading to a blunting of the nasal contours.
Augmenting the nose and adding structure enables the surgeon to create increased tip projection, a higher dorsum, and improved tip contour.
Cosmetic surgery among Asians has become more common and more socially accepted over the last decade. The history of corrective and aesthetic surgery of the Asian nose during this period is marked by evolution and refinement. Many surgeons seeking improved structure and tip contour have turned to alloplastic implants.
Although most patients do well with this type of implant, a minority develop complications including thinning of the skin over the implant, extrusion, infection, displacement, translucency of the implant, and chronic pain.
