Cosmetic surgery of the Asian nose generally requires "building up" (augmentation) of the nasal profile in contrast to Caucasian rhinoplasty in which the size of the nose is reduced. Of utmost importance in augmentation procedures is the material used. Many western surgeons recommend use of the patient's own bone or cartilage, but this requires an additional operation to obtain the material which is often difficult to precisely sculpture and may change in size and shape as time progresses, gradually resulting in a change in the appearance of the nose.

In Asia, silastic implants are by far the most common method of nasal augmentation. This material retains its size and shape, but the surgeon must be careful to sculpture the material so that it fits each individual nose without producing pressure on the skin that could result in a complication.

My experiences in nasal augmentation have resulted in design of an implant that is soft, flexible and easily sculptured to accommodate the esthetic requirements of each individual nose and is placed via an incision inside the nostril. The softness and flexibility of this implant produce excellent cosmetic results with a very low incidence of complications.

The following actual pre and postoperative photographs show augmentation of the nasal profile using a soft, flexible implant placed via an incision inside the nostril.