It’s Not "One Nose Fits All" For Hispanic Nose Reshaping Patients

Due to the diversity of ethnicities that make up the Hispanic population, nose reshaping is not a "one size fits all" solution for Hispanics interested in plastic surgery of the nose. According to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Hispanic nose reshaping can be classified into three types, each of which require a different surgical approach.

"For many plastic surgeons, Hispanic nose reshaping ranks as the third most common ethnic type of nose reshaping, behind Asian and African American," said ASPS member Rollin Daniel, MD. "However, Hispanic nose reshaping procedures will increase dramatically in the coming decade for two reasons, the increasing population of Hispanics in the United States and their greater economic prosperity."

According to the study, because of the varied backgrounds and the enormous anatomical diversity, Hispanic nose reshaping can be classified into three types, each of which require a different surgical approach. The "Mestizo" nose is a mixture of the European and Indian populations. The "Castilian" nose represents a Spanish European nose with characteristics most resembling the Caucasian nose, while the "Mexican American" nose represents a combination of the Mestizo and Castilian nose.

"It has been a misconception that all Hispanic noses are variations of the Mestizo nose only," said Dr. Daniel. "A variety of genetic mixtures found in the Hispanic nose, make nose reshaping for the ethnic group uniquely different and challenging for plastic surgeons."

"The nose is one of the most important facial features that exhibits racial character," continued Dr. Daniel. "Hispanic nose reshaping patients want to refine, reduce, or create balance with the rest of the face. My Hispanic patients have been extremely happy with their results."

According to ASPS statistics, Hispanic Americans made up seven percent (436,129 patients) of all cosmetic plastic surgery patients in 2002. Overall, nose reshaping was the number one cosmetic plastic surgery procedure in 2002 (354,327 patients).

Reprinted with permission from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site.

at Dr. Angelchik's office click here