Question:
I’m a black woman and I’d like to have surgery to improve my nose. I think the bridge could be narrowed a bit, but what I really dislike is the lower portion of my nose which is much too wide, including the nostrils. Where are the incisions made for this? I imagine that to narrow a very wide nose and nostrils, some incisions must have to be made around the nostrils.

Answer:
The African-American nose typically has weak cartilages, wide/big tip, flat dorsum, wide alae, and thick skin. Most likely, an open approach rhinoplasty would be required with alae narrowing.  Incisions are made at the columella (where nose meets upper lip), inside the nose and around the nostrils. These incisions heal well for most patients without problems.

Click here for an ethnic rhinoplasty before and after patient photo.