When Liz Taylor played Cleopatra in the eponymous 1963 film, she graced the screen with a delicate, upturned nose. However, historians have painted a different picture of the Egyptian Queen’s nose—one that’s big and round. In fact, 17th-century philosopher Pascal said, “Cleopatra’s nose, had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed.”
And that brings us to the point of this post—people of different ethnicities have been told for years that a Eurocentric nose is ideal, but chasing that look doesn’t complement who they are. For starters, getting a rhinoplasty to look Caucasian violates one’s natural shape and can lead to subpar or botched results. Also, getting such a nose can run counter to one’s ancestral identity.
With that said, we’ll examine nasal structure differences among various ethnicities, and what the goal of rhinoplasty should be for different ethnicities.
Goal of Rhinoplasty 101
Let’s quickly revisit what the purpose of a rhinoplasty is, because the purpose seems to have been lost over the years (decades, really).
The goal of a rhinoplasty—nose jobs—is to improve the shape of the nose so that it’s balanced and in proportion to the rest of your face. And what that looks like for you is uniquely meant for you.
Also, rhinoplasties can help improve the function of the nose, resolving issues such as breathing difficulties.
Goals of Rhinoplasty
- Reshaping the nasal tip, nostrils
- Smoothing the nasal bridge
- Changing the size, profile, and width of the nose by removing humps or filling depressions
- Changing the position or size of the nostrils
As you can see, the goal is personalization. A surgeon’s goal is to give you the best looking and functioning nose for your face.
At no point should a rhinoplasty ever serve as a means to look like another ethnic group. Now that brings us to our next point—what noses look like, generally speaking, among different ethnicities.
Common Features Found Among Ethnicities
There’s no getting around it, and reality can’t be ignored—ethnicities share nasal traits that differ from other ethnic groups. Aesthetics aside, these traits are structural, meaning they can impact the outcome of rhinoplasty and what a surgeon can accomplish.
Nasal Features by Ethnicity
- African/Black: People of African descent often have wide nasal bases, less pronounced bridges, and soft nasal tips. They often have thicker skin yet softer cartilage.
- Middle Eastern/Indian: Individuals of Middle Eastern and Indian heritage tend to have prominent, sometimes hooked nasal bridges with more defined nasal tips. Skin thickness may vary among this group.
- Hispanic/Latin: Although varied, Hispanic/Latin people often have broader nasal bases, less pronounced bridges, and rounder nasal tips.
- Asian/Pacific Islander: Individuals of Asian and Pacific Island heritage tend to have flatter nasal profiles, wider, less defined tips, and a lower nasal bridge.
- Native/Indigenous: People who are of Native ancestry have noses that are varied, but often wider, with flatter nasal bridges and bulbous tips.
Notice that all of these nasal shapes and structures differ from the Caucasian (which largely inspired the Barbie nose) that society has flaunted as being ideal. The starting point is already different.
Realistic Expectations for People of Color
As you’d expect, a different starting point would mean that the end result will also differ from what rhinoplasty among Caucasians would look like. It’s important that patients from the above-mentioned ethnic groups know what they can expect, and surgeons are responsible for letting them know beforehand.
What Rhinoplasty May Entail for Different Ethnicities
- African/Black: For people of African descent, a rhinoplasty may mean narrowing the nostrils, refining the tip, and enhancing the shape of the bridge.
- Middle Eastern/Indian: For Middle Eastern and Indian people, rhinoplasty involves reducing the nasal hump and refining the tip.
- Hispanic/Latin: Rhinoplasty among Hispanic/Latin individuals involves refining the nasal tip, and often, narrowing the nasal base to a reasonable extent.
- Asian/Pacific Islander: For Asian people and Pacific Islanders, a rhinoplasty’s goal is to lift the nasal bridge, and define the tip so it’s more prominent.
- Native/Indigenous: Rhinoplasty among people of Native American ancestry typically involves refining the nasal tip, and subtly enhancing the nasal bridge to give it more prominence.
As you can see, the goals of rhinoplasty differ when you’re dealing with a specific ethnicity—the end goals are different. And none of them result in the Eurocentric ideal; the long, narrow nose with its projected and angular tip.
Keep in mind too that the healing and recovery can differ among ethnicities as well. For example, African-American and Asian patients may have to wait longer to see results due to having thicker skin in their nasal bridges. With that said, everyone is ultimately unique, and so is their rhinoplasty.
Sculpting a Nose You & Your Ancestors Would Appreciate
The key takeaway is that rhinoplasty with an “ethnic” focus is about creating a natural balance and symmetry for one’s given face and ancestry. It’s not about looking like someone else. And take some patients’ stories as a cautionary tale.
For example, a VICE article published a few years back detailed the stories of four young women of varying ethnic backgrounds who had rhinoplasties done. One of the women, in particular, said, “If I could turn back time, I’d never have got a nose job – it took away a part of my identity.”
In a more recent article published in Vogue, a Jamaican-American writer who also has Indian ancestry discusses the effect social media has on shaping nose preferences. They also discuss a shifting focus towards more natural rhinoplasties that preserve ancestral heritage. This is the message we wish algorithms pushed to social media users.
At the offices of Dr. Rival, our goal is to give you the best rhinoplasty results that complement your face, without sacrificing your cultural and ethnic identity. Beauty is fluid and diverse, and the nasal shape that suits you best is personal. If Pascal were to see your nose, he might echo a similar sentiment: “If your nose was any different than its natural shape, it would change the face of your whole identity.”