ON THE NOSE. Along with the rise of the “Selfie” phenomenon, demand for nose jobs surgeries surges in Jakarta and beyond. Chris Andre investigates
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No one is born perfect, yet that shouldn’t be a big deal in the 21st century. Advances in cosmetic treatment have brought virtually unlimited possibilities for everyone to alter their physical appearance, fast and easy. Especially in Asia, the demand for these treatments has been growing steadily, particularly among men as observed by notable plastic surgeon Danu Mahandaru. “Around one to two years ago, 95 percent of my clients were women and the rest were men,” he started off. “These days, the ratio is around 80 to 20 between female and male patients.”
Despite the startling change in attitudes, Dr. Mahandaru pointed out that many patients are not fully aware of what to expect when going under the knife. “A lot of clients bring photos of Korean or international movie stars, and they want to copy some of their facial features. But cosmetic surgery is not meant to turn you into someone else, but to improve your physical attributes according to what’s suitable for you,” explained the surgeon. Another sentiment comes from Dr. Enrina Diah, the owner of Ultimo Clinic, who added, “It’s important for a patient to pick the right surgeons based on their education, experience and reputation, because every medical procedure bears its own risks.”
“Human face and body don’t have any sharp angles. That is why angularity and height of the nose are very crucial”
TYPES OF COSMETIC TREATMENTS
In general, the range of treatments available falls into three categories: non-invasive, minimally invasive and invasive surgeries. The non-invasive option is normally used to tackle wrinkles and body contouring through the use of fillers, Botox and even ultrasound technology, while minimally invasive treatments are minor surgeries, such as thread lifts inserting a thread into the face to tighten the skin and thus reduce wrinkles. Invasive treatments are often done to reconstruct the physical features of a patient, often resulting in a more solid and lasting transformation compared to the previous two.
NASAL METAMORPHOSIS
For men in Indonesia, one of the common cosmetic procedures taken is rhinoplasty, also known as nose jobs. It is essentially a nosereshaping procedure, which is usually undertaken to correct defects on the nose structure or alter the look of the nose to better suit the face. It can be done using dermal fillers (such as hyaluronic acid), fat transfer or implants.
The popularity of this treatment is currently on the rise due to a currently mainstream phenomenon. “Because of the ‘selfie’ trend, a lot of people pay more attention to the way their faces look,” Dr. Diah stated matter-of-factly. “They want their face to look thinner with the nose pointier.” It’s quite common for clients to pick Korean celebrities as the point of reference in regards to the specific nose shape that many clients desire.
The increasing demand, however, doesn’t exactly correlate to a better understanding of what is necessary to construct a “good” nose. For those who prefer taking shortcuts by attending uncertified clinics or even beauty salons to get silicone injections, Dr. Diah warned that a badly performed procedure could end up with a red nose which sounds innocuous until you realize that this basically means a loosened-up nose structure due to excess liquid. “Your nose might look a bit weird in the end,” she added. It’s also worth noting that although fillers can show immediate results, implants will last way much longer. Naturally, Dr. Mahandaru also advises against reckless nose jobs. “For one, a strictly angular nose might end up looking ‘fake’ instead of natural,” he says. “The human face and body don’t have any sharp angles. That is why the angularity and height of the nose are so crucial. Too much is never good in this case.”
Yet another interesting point to discuss is the recovery process. While nose jobs these days don’t usually entail painful recovery, it still depends on the doctor handling the case. Modern medicine and technology allows pain to be manipulated, shared Dr. Mahandaru. “For a typical invasive surgery such as, say, liposuction,” Dr. Diah explained, “it takes seven to 10 days before the stitches are removed, and, after a month, you’re ready for a full physical exercise session.”
All that being said, it is still no wonder why some people, even men, can’t get enough of plastic surgery. When done correctly, it can be a painless way to make one look “naturally” better. Although perfection is overrated, a perfect nose is no longer just a dream for modern men.
Dr. Danu Mahandaru, Sp.BP-RE. is a prominent board-certified Indonesian plastic surgeon. He practices at The Clinic Indonesia and RS. Pondok Indah.
Dr. Enrina Diah, Sp.BP-RE. is the founder and owner of Ultimo Clinic Aesthetic & Dental Centers in Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali.
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