The United States is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world, and American plastic surgeons are continually adapting to trends among minority populations. Certain procedures must be geared towards the specific needs of a minority group, such as with eyelid surgery for Southeast Asians or laser hair removal for African Americans. A new report in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has highlighted the issue of rhinoplasty among Indian Americans. Due to the unique needs and desires of Indian Americans, there are a number of important surgical, cultural, and aesthetic considerations that surgeons must bear in mind.
The Indian American population has grown rapidly over the last 10 years and now exceeds 2.5 million. Thanks to the rising Bollywood industry and influence of American culture, many are starting to move away from traditional norms and beginning to favor cosmetic surgery. “Most Indians living in America are immigrants or first generation Americans and thus present an emerging population for aesthetic rhinoplasty,” according to study authors Dr. Sejal M. Patel and Dr. Rollin K. Daniel.
The most common complaint among Indian Americans seeking rhinoplasty was a bump on the nose, followed by feeling that the nose was too big, or that the tip of the nose was drooping. Although despite desiring modifications to their appearance, the patients wished to preserve their ethnic identity. The researchers developed different approaches, including the use of Photoshop to create “after” photos, to show their patients the potential results before committing to surgery.
“It is important that plastic surgeons in the U.S. realize that Indian American rhinoplasty is a distinct entity as these patients have specific criteria for preserving their ethnic identity,” Drs. Patel and Daniel write. Indian Americans have particular facial characteristics and expectations that plastic surgeons must understand in order to provide the best results.
(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)














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