Aesthetics for the next millennium

The approach of a new millenium provides us, as rhinoplasty surgeons, the opportunity to reflect on where we are and where we are going. Aesthetically, there are several trends that are evident today. The first is the desire for a natural, unoperated appearance to the final rhinoplasty result. Second, is that our patient population continues to be more racially diverse; Caucasian normative standards of facial analysis are no longer sufficient. What is required is a broader understanding of ethnically specific facial features. Third, the standard values of facial and nasal analysis are derived from population means. If we desire to create beauty, these standards may not be adequate. Beauty is an ill-defined concept that is obvious to the observer and recognized cross-culturally, however, it is difficult to quantify. To consistently achieve beautiful rhinoplasty results, we must start with an understanding of what our aesthetic ideals should be. This has yet to be satisfactorily defined for all racial groups and remains a challenge for the future.