Asian Augmentation Rhinoplasty

Overview

Frederick and Yoo review how augmentation rhinoplasty has evolved for Asian patients, whose noses typically have a low bridge, limited septal cartilage and thick soft tissue. The review covers general considerations, patient selection and the common augmentation methods, with emphasis on diced cartilage fascial grafting. No patient series is reported.

Sections of note

• Typical Asian anatomy: lower dorsum, limited septal cartilage, thicker soft-tissue cover.
• Patient selection and preoperative assessment are stressed as critical.
• The authors state autologous grafts "have generally shown to provide superior results, safety, and permanence" compared with alloplastic implants.
• Technique choice depends on skin quality, structure and desired result.

What it means for a patient

• The authors' position is that the patient's own tissue is safer long term than an implant, at the cost of a rib harvest.
• Diced cartilage wrapped in fascia is their preferred dorsal method.
• This is an opinion-based review; surgeons in East Asia often reach different conclusions about implants.

Why this paper matters

It reflects the US facial plastic surgery view on Asian augmentation, which leans autologous. Limits: review, no data, and the claim of superiority is stated rather than demonstrated.

Terms

• Augmentation rhinoplasty: building up the bridge or tip.
• Alloplastic implant: a synthetic implant such as silicone or ePTFE.
• Autologous graft: tissue from the patient's own body.
• Diced cartilage fascia (DCF) graft: chopped cartilage wrapped in a sheet of fascia to shape the bridge.