Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty in Patients of African Descent: A Retrospective Review

Overview

The authors state there is little research on nonsurgical rhinoplasty in people of African descent, whose nasal anatomy and aesthetic goals differ from the populations usually studied. They present a case series from one clinician's practice, reviewing charts of patients treated with hyaluronic acid filler injections between March 2018 and February 2021, along with the technique used.

Sections of note

• Design: retrospective chart review, single clinician. Level of evidence therapeutic IV.
• 487 patients of African descent or of mixed race including African descent were included.
• Most common reasons for treatment: lack of bridge definition 63.9 percent, excessive nostril width 61.6 percent, and a bulbous tip 61.6 percent.
• Median filler volume at the first treatment visit was 0.6 millilitres, range 0.3 to 2.1.
• No cases of infection, vascular occlusion or necrosis were reported.
• The authors describe the first author's own injection technique for this population.
• The abstract states patient reported outcomes were reviewed but gives no scores or satisfaction figures.

What it means for a patient

• Filler adds volume, so in this group it was used mostly to define the bridge rather than to reduce anything.
• The volumes used, a median of 0.6 millilitres, are larger than in reports of tip only injection.
• No serious vascular complications occurred across 487 patients, which is reassuring, though a single practice cannot establish a rate for rare events.
• Limits: one clinician, retrospective records, no comparison group, no stated follow up period, and satisfaction reported without numbers.

Why this paper matters

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty literature has been built on a narrow set of nasal anatomies, and treatment aims that assume a different starting shape do not transfer. Documenting indications, volumes and safety in a large series of patients of African descent fills a stated gap. Durability and patient satisfaction remain unquantified here.

Terms

• Nonsurgical rhinoplasty: reshaping the nose by injecting filler instead of operating.
• Hyaluronic acid filler: an injectable gel made from a sugar molecule present in tissue.
• Vascular occlusion: filler blocking a blood vessel, which can cause tissue loss or blindness.
• Necrosis: death of skin or soft tissue, usually from lost blood supply.
• Alar width: the distance across the base of the nostrils.
• Racially congruent result: an outcome that keeps features consistent with the patient's heritage.