Houston African American Rhinoplasty

As a rhinoplasty specialist, Dr. Funk is dedicated to personalizing his approach for each patient's needs when it comes to getting nose surgery or any other cosmetic procedure. One of the most important aspects to consider during a consultation is the patient's ethnic background. African-American or Black rhinoplasty is a form of ethnic rhinoplasty which is unique to this demographic. Experience with African-American noses is essential to obtain the desired result after rhinoplasty.  Most African-American noses have distinct characteristics that should be noted when discussing rhinoplasty. No two rhinoplasty procedures are alike, even within the same ethnic background. Dr. Funk carefully considers the specific needs and preferences of each patient during the consultation. Overall, African American rhinoplasty should restore a more desirable balance to the face, look natural and enhance the beauty of the rest of his/her facial features.

  Houston African American Rhinoplasty Before & Afters View African American Rhinoplasty Before & Afters

African-American Rhinoplasty Process

Consultation

Dr. Funk takes pride in his extensive consultation with each patient.  He makes sure to understand his patients’ concerns and desires for their ideal aesthetic result.  Dr. Funk believes that the goal with rhinoplasty is not to create a nose that HE feels is aesthetically pleasing but to give YOU the nose that YOU want.  This is what makes a happy patient.  If you want to keep a straight bridge without a gentle curve or slope or do not want your tip rotated with nose surgery, he makes sure to honor these requests and wishes. 

Dr. Funk will provide a thorough examination of the external and internal aspects of your nose.  If there is a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates, he will discuss this with you, what it means, and what can be done to address these issues.  Photographs will be taken and Dr. Funk personally will sit with you and loved ones while making digital changes to your photos.  He feels that this allows both the surgeon and patient to be on the same page regarding the desired outcome.  Dr. Funk will personally review actual before and after images of patients who have similar features to your nose and have undergone rhinoplasty with him.

Your consultation will end with our patient care coordinator discussing your quote for surgery and insurance benefits if you have breathing issues.  She will assist with scheduling your surgery and accommodating your needs up to the date of the procedure. 

Preoperative Appointment

Your preoperative appointment, or preop, typically occurs the day prior to your procedure.  On this day, you will spend a considerable amount of time with our patient care coordinator who will provide prescriptions and detailed instructions on what to expect during and after your rhinoplasty, and how to care for the nose after your surgery.  You will also meet with Dr. Funk once more to assure the two of you are in agreement regarding the goals for the surgery.  Images may be reviewed once more during your preop with Dr. Funk.

Dr. Funk will explain in detail what steps he may take during your rhinoplasty procedure. African-American nasal skin is usually quite thick, especially at the nasal tip.  This is important when patients want to refine a bulbous tip.  This can be done, but only to a certain degree.  The nasal skin can be thinned to provide more definition to the nasal tip.  Grafts can be used to define the tip even more.  The nasal tip in African-American noses can commonly be flat and broad.  The tip can also be droopy.  This is due to weak nasal tip cartilages.  It is important to build up the African-American nasal tip with cartilage grafts. These can be taken from the septum after a septoplasty for a deviated septum or from ear cartilage.  This will also provide more definition for those with a bulbous tip. The bridge or dorsum of the African-American nose is usually low.  Depending on the tip height, this bridge may need to be raised.  This can be done using rib cartilage or artificial implants.  If only a small amount of augmentation is necessary, ear cartilage or fascia may be sufficient. Lastly, the nostrils in an African-American nose can frequently be quite wide or flared.  It is important to narrow these appropriately while minimizing scarring.  Over-narrowing of the nostrils in African-American rhinoplasty may lead to a pinched or operated appearance.  Respect for the ethnicity of the nose needs to be taken into account.  

Day of Surgery

On your day of surgery, it is important to note that Dr. Funk has performed your rhinoplasty in his mind 3-4 times already - on the day of your consultation, at your preop, and the morning of surgery.  Dr. Funk will perform your rhinoplasty at an accredited surgery center with an anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, nurse, and surgical technician.  Dr. Funk insists on having the same team for your surgery.  This way, they understand his routine and things run much more smoothly.  Rhinoplasty duration varies but usually takes 2-3 hours.  You will be in recovery for about one hour and then be discharged home.

Why Dr. Funk for African American rhinoplasty?

Dr. Funk performs 250-300 rhinoplasties per year.  Many of these rhinoplasty procedures are ethnic rhinoplasty.  Inherently, a good portion of these are African American rhinoplasty.  His extensive experience with African-American noses and their specific features help him to create more refined, enhanced, and elegant noses.  

What makes African-American rhinoplasty unique?

African-American rhinoplasty is a sub-category of ethnic rhinoplasty which is unique in the characteristics of the African-American nose and desires of most African-American patients.  Most African-American noses have a flat dorsum or bridge (but not quite as flat as Asian noses), a broad bulbous tip, wide flared nostrils, and thick nasal tip skin.  The nasal bones may also be wide and in some patients there may be a dorsal hump. 

The most common requests from African-American patients is to narrow their nose, refine the nasal tip, narrow the nostrils, and possibly build up the bridge or dorsum.  These are all techniques common to ethnic rhinoplasty but need to be performed by a rhinoplasty surgeon experienced in African-American rhinoplasty in order to preserve ethnic identity and not create an operated appearance.