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Many ethnic noses have flat wide bridges. Often augmentation grafting to build them up and create the visual effect of narrowing is needed with or without osteotomies to bring the bones in as well.

As far as I know cost is the only reason unless you are from there and have family for support. It sounds great to do but you really have no way to check the credentials of the doctor or facility and if you get into medical trouble you are in a foreign country. You also will not be able to see anyone for follow up or questions after. It's a high risk and dangerous proposition.

How awesome! I would wait a month so you can really enjoy and look great.

Good question. It's one that only your doctor can answer for him or herself. Estimates for even expert surgeons range from 5-30%, but there is no actual data available. i advise my patients that they will have a 5% chance of needing a "touch up' after a year. I like to think that few of my patients need major redo's but if they don't followup you can't know for sure.

If it is after 6-8 weeks there will be enough healing that the loss of sutures will not affect the result.

Sometimes around the ear and sometimes under the chin and sometimes both. They are not mutually exclusive. It all depends on where the patient starts and where we want the result to end up.

Dissolvable sutures used to close incisions should be gone in 2-4 weeks. Deeper ones used to support the structure should last 6 months.

I use steroid injections within the first month of surgery when the patient has very thick skin and I am trying to encourage shrinkage and thinning. Beyond that they probably aren't helpful. In your case it would be important to know how long you are after surgery, if the hardness is due to graft placement to create shape or scar formation.

In all patients rhinoplasty reshapes underlying bone and cartilage to create a more pleasing appearance. In some patients a certain amount of bone and cartilage is removed, in others it is added. In many African Americans additional work may be done on the nostrils themselves if desired.

Implants are certainly one option. I prefer to use a patient's own cartilage though if it is available rather then an implant. This avoids the risks of all implants which include infection, rejection and shifting.