Analysis of the African American Nose
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon in New York and New Jersey

Beauty and the African-American Nose

The nose is a person’s most defining feature because it is at the center of the face. The shape of the nose determines whether the face is symmetrical and thereby aesthetically pleasing. If the nose does not fit the face, the whole face appears out of balance. Therefore, every nose must be customized to fit the individual’s face. Patient complaints often include statements such as my nose is too big, too flat, too wide, and even too masculine or feminine. As the most defining facial feature, the nose is often associated with physical identity.

It’s not uncommon for patients seeking African-American rhinoplasty to express concerns that wanting to change the shape of their nose is somehow not honoring their ethnicity. On the contrary, rhinoplasty surgery can refine the appearance of the nose while respecting conceptions of African-American beauty. Such an instance is not unlike the woman who complains that her nose is too masculine, but also expresses a pang of guilt because it is her father’s nose. The nose may be harmonious in appearance on her father’s face, but not in harmony with her own facial features. Everyone has unique facial characteristics. The nose should be reshaped to fit the size of the face.

The Anatomy of the African American Nose

African-American rhinoplasty surgery can address the whole nose or focus on a particular element. The African-American nose is distinguished by the width and curvature of the nasal dorsum, tip, and nasal frontal angle as well as thicker skin and subcutaneous tissue (This thickness lends the tip fullness and can obscure the underlying structure). The nose is a complex structure of bone and cartilage. The top half of the dorsum consists of bone and the lower half of the dorsum and tip consists of cartilage (the flexible tissue you feel when you wiggle the tip of your nose). Potentially, only one of these elements is out of alignment with the rest of the nose and other facial features. An experienced plastic surgeon with knowledge of the distinct anatomy of the African American nose can determine which elements may be refined to best achieve your desired results.

An aesthetically pleasing face is symmetrical. Facial symmetry is measured in numerical proportions: the rules of facial thirds and facial fifths. The length of the nose (vertical height) is evaluated by dividing the face into equal horizontal facial thirds. The nose should encompass the middle third from top to bottom. The width of the nose (horizontal width) is evaluated by dividing the face into equal vertical fifths. The width of the nose should span approximately 1/5 th of the face. Nasal angles (nasofacial angle, nasofrontal angle, and nasomental angle) measure the projection of the nose from the lateral view or profile. The simplest measure of nasal angles takes into account the length, width, and projection of the nose by creating a right triangle between the alar groove, the tip, and the nasion.

Areas of the Nose | Facial Thirds | Facial Fifths | Nasal Angles

First, we must understand the Anatomy of the nose and how it relates to the African American nose. The anatomy of the nose is a complex structure that is made up of bone and cartilage. The top half of the dorsum is bone and the lower half of the dorsum and tip is cartilage. Bone is not flexible, does not move easily. Cartilage is more flexible. For example, wiggle the tip of your nose. Other areas of the body that have cartilage include your outer ear. Sometimes we use cartilage from the ear to repair a defect in the septum of the nose or to create a new tip graft. Often we can use cartilage from the septum to create a tip graft.

	Areas that pertain to the nose. Trichion: Anterior hairline in the midline Glabella: Most prominent midline point of forehead, well appreciated on lateral view Nasion: Most posterior midline point of forehead, typically corresponds to nasofrontal su­ture Supratip: Point cephalic to the tip Tip: Ideally, most projected part of the nose Subnasale: Junction of columella and upper lip Menton: Chin
	Facial Thirds >> Symmetry is achieved when the thirds are equal. A longer forehead will make the other two thirds smaller and asymmetrical. >> The length of the nose (from subnasion to columella/tip) should encompass most of the middle third from top to bottom
	Facial Fifths >> Symmetry is achieved when the fifths are equal. The width of the eyes from corner to corner are approximately one fifth. >> The width of the nose (at the nostrils) should span 1/5 th of the face, (the width of one eye). The base of the nostrils is usually oriented between the inner corners of the two eyes.
	Nasal Angles >> There are three distinct nasal angles with ideal measurements: that nasofacial angle (36 degrees), the nasofrontal angle (between 120 and 135 degrees), and the nasomental angle (130 degrees). >> The simplest measure of nasal angles combines the three angles by measuring a right triangle between the alar groove, the tip and the nasion.