Improvement of Mild Nasal Contour Imperfections With Autologous Fat Grafting in East Asian Females: Techniques and Anatomy.

Abstract

East Asian women often present with mild nasal contour imperfections for which they are unwilling to undergo open rhinoplasty because the potential risks outweigh the modest severity. Autologous fat grafting is a mature technique for soft-tissue augmentation and has been applied in rhinoplasty; however, when solely used, its efficacy in this demographic remains obscure. The authors of this study aim to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of autologous fat grafting for mild nasal contour imperfections in East Asian women. Cadaveric head dissection was performed to verify the anatomical accuracy of fat placement using the described techniques. A retrospective examination was conducted on 130 East Asian female patients (median age, 31 years; median follow-up, 18 months) that underwent rhinoplasty with autologous fat grafting between May 2013 and April 2024. Preoperative and postoperative profile photographs were measured for objective results. Patient satisfaction was assessed using FACE-Q questionnaires, and the results were also evaluated by 3-party ratings. Cadaveric dissections confirmed precise and predictable fat placement within targeted anatomical planes. Clinically, significant postoperative changes were observed in nasofrontal angle (mean change, +0.99°), nasolabial angle (+1.41°), nasal base convexity (+0.73%), and dorsal inclination angle (-0.38°; all P < .05); subgroup analyses identified nasal spine augmentation driving nasolabial angle increases. Both FACE-Q scores and 3-party ratings reflected high postoperative satisfaction. No severe complications were reported; minor complications included nodule formation and fat migration. Autologous fat grafting is effective for correcting mild nasal contour imperfections in East Asian women. As corroborated by clinical results and dissection, the described techniques ensure precise fat placement in different nasal esthetic units.