Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Each culture has traits that are universally beautiful and prized. Ethnic rhinoplasty strives to protect these assets while correcting imperfections that cause self-consciousness for the patient. When performed by Dr. Shastri in Chicago, the benefits of the procedure include the following:

• Preserves the patient’s unique beauty and vitality
• Maintains cultural and ethnic heritage
• Enhances balance in the profile
• Encourages harmony among the features
• Refocuses the gaze on the eyes and the smile
• Improves the structure of the nasal bridge
• Corrects overly large, pinched, or flared nostrils
• Treats poor breathing function
• Each treatment plan is highly customized
• Heightens self-confidence
• Long-lasting results

Ethnic rhinoplasty is ideal for patients of African, Asian, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern descent who seek elegant, natural-looking changes that do not negate their unique ethnic and cultural heritage. In order to qualify for the procedure, you will need to be in good mental and physical health, a non-smoker, and free from any uncontrolled medical concerns that might interfere with your surgery or its recovery. Rhinoplasty is only recommended for patients whose noses have finished growing. This typically happens for girls at around age 16 and for boys at around age 17 or 18. Dr. Shastri will complete a detailed consultation process at his Chicago, IL office to ensure the procedure will be safe and successful in your case.

Ethnic rhinoplasty in Chicago can take several hours to complete and is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation. You will rest peacefully throughout the procedure and not feel any pain or discomfort. Once you are asleep, Dr. Shastri will create your surgical incisions. When choosing a “closed” approach, he will make incisions within your nostrils, where scarring will later be undetectable. If he chooses an “open” approach, an incision will be made at the base of the nose across the columella, which is the thin strip of skin between the nostrils. This incision also leads to an inconspicuous scar that is typically only noticeable to the patient and their surgeon. Dr. Shastri will then adjust your nasal bone and cartilage, reshaping the bridge, tip, and nostrils to create a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing nose.

After your surgery, Dr. Shastri will monitor you in his private recovery suite until you are ready to be accompanied home by a friend, family member, or assistant. As with most major surgeries, swelling, bruising, soreness, and congestion are common with ethnic rhinoplasty. These side effects will be at their worst during the first few days after surgery and then will gradually lessen. While Dr. Shastri will prescribe narcotic pain medications to help relieve initial discomfort, most patients can switch to over-the-counter medications within a few days of their procedure.

You are encouraged to sleep with your head elevated first, which can help reduce swelling. You will need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. While your nose will look more refined and elegant with every passing day, remember that residual swelling can last from 6 to 12 months. For this reason, it is critical that patients not judge their final results after ethnic rhinoplasty too quickly. Should any questions or concerns arise during your recovery, Dr. Shastri and his team are available around the clock to respond.