Question:
Is skin thickness a greater factor in ethnic rhinoplasties and why?
Answer:
The skin thickness is a great factor in rhinoplasty, particularly in ethnic rhinoplasties. Many African American, Asian and Hispanic patients have thick skin which conceals the underlying cartilage of the nose. These patients also often have noses that are under-projected. The best way to make an under-projected, thick-skinned nose look better is to increase projection. So the goal to taking a very thick skinned patient and making the nose look more refined and narrow is to increase projection. In addition, over aggressive resection of cartilage in thick-skinned patients will lead to the nose looking worse.
