Aesthetically speaking, facial appearance is created from many different aesthetic components of the face. The eyes, nose, lips, chin, facial soft tissues, skin, and hair all contribute to one’s overall facial appearance. Balancing these components will provide an overall pleasing appearance to the face – an appearance that we refer to as “harmonious.” When one of these components stands out from the rest and becomes abnormal, it can change the overall harmony of the face, often causing distress and dissatisfaction. For example, if one’s nose is proportionally too big, too crooked, or otherwise unpleasing, it may detract from one’s overall facial appearance and appear to stand out.
When this imbalance becomes bothersome to a patient, it is a good time to discuss surgery. The goal of surgery is to restore overall facial harmony by sculpting the facial features to a more pleasing size or shape, giving a natural result. A result that looks overdone, or “surgical,” will continue to distract from one’s overall facial harmony. Specific ethnic traits should be preserved at the patient’s request. The ultimate goal is to achieve a natural and more refreshed or harmonious appearance.