Growing numbers of Indian Americans are seeking rhinoplasty to treat a range of nasal deformities including dorsal humps, downwardly rotated tips and large noses, and plastic surgeons need to be aware of some key differences and aesthetic goals of this new patient population.
"Indian American rhinoplasty patients present a challenging range of nasal deformities requiring careful surgery planning," write Sejal M. Patel, MD, of and American Society of Plastic Surgeons Member Surgeon Rollin K. Daniel, MD. Their findings appear in the March issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Both doctors practice in California.
Traditionally, few Indian Americans have sought plastic surgery due to a cultural emphasis on "inner beauty," but "in the last two decades the pursuit of ‘outer beauty’ has gained momentum, concurrent with the ‘Bollywood’ film industry," the study authors write. "Most Indians living in America are immigrants or first generation Americans and thus present an emerging population for aesthetic rhinoplasty."
The new study includes a detailed analysis of 35 Indian American rhinoplasty cases including 15 patients and 20 women with morphed inages. The findings help clarify the specific reasons why Indian Americans seek rhinoplasty. The most common complaint was a "bump" on the nose in profile. Other patients felt that their nose was too large, or that the tip of the nose was "drooping." Although they wanted to change their appearance, all of the patients wanted to preserve their ethnic identity.
The study authors believe that preoperative "morphing" via Photoshop is a particularly useful tool for establishing the Indian American patients’ aesthetic goals, and planning a rhinoplasty procedure to meet those goals.
