What's Most Attractive in a Male Nose?

You have made some very good observations with regards to male and female noses. I have found that no two individuals, male or female, will necessarily look good with the same nose. The noses that you have found to be attractive in females are likely proportionate to the face and follow some basic parameters and measurements that we generally follow to help us with our judgment during rhinoplasty. The variations in rhinoplasty you have noticed in females are in large part related to some of the art that is required to create the subtle changes that make the nose look good. What you see in male noses are exactly as you have interpreted them. Male noses help convey confidence and attractiveness when they are strong, full, and well defined.

Most patients, men and women, desire a more refined nasal appearance. They may present with a "pudgy" nose. Treatment involves trimming the nasal cartilages. By the way, I have some examples on my website if you want to read more. The link is attached. The skin is thicker in men and in men it is important not to feminize the nose by refining the tip too much and the dorsum needs to be straight and masculine (obviously there are exceptions such as transgender patients).

You are correct that in general what looks good on a woman does not look good on a male.  Therefore a surgeon should not have a cookie cutter approach to Rhinoplasty.  In general male noses shouldBe straight rather than scoopedTip refined but not as much as a femaleStraight or 90 deg without the tip rotated up Projection of tip rather than a short noseThese are generally some of the desired features but its crucial that the surgeon assess your other facial features and customizes the nose to you

There is a simple rule to doing a male's nose - keep it looking like a male's nose. Unfortunately there are many pictures out there that show post operative male rhinoplasty patients who's noses have been feminized - slightly scoopy and too small for the face. Different techniques are needed when performing a male rhinoplasty. The main goal is for the bridge to come straight down to the tip with no curvature. The tip should project nicely, but not be over rotated. It should be narrowed some to match the face, but not pinched. As long as the nose remains masculine and blends nicely with the rest of the face it will be an attractive male nose.

Hello and thank you for your question. The key for a good male rhinoplasty is keeping the nose very natural looking and not overly scooping out the dorsum or overly rotating the tip. I recommend that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate you in person.

Best wishes and good luck.

Richard G. Reish, M.D.
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

You are correct in thinking there are significant differences between male and female rhinoplasty. Women tend to look better with a slightly upturned tip, a narrower bridge, and a slight curve to the bridge are usually desired. Men typically prefer a straighter bridge and less rotation on the tip. However, both men and women require a careful, customized approach to this procedure to ensure the "new" nose is proportionate to the other facial features and looks natural on the face. This takes expertise, experience, and a touch of artistry to get it just right. I encourage you to schedule consultations with some board-certified facial plastic surgeons who have performed many male rhinoplasties. With an in-person assessment and detailed discussion of your concerns and goals, you can select the surgeon who is the best fit for you.

This is an excellent question. There is no one right answer for what makes a male nose attractive as everyone's facial features and structure are different. However, there are certain common features that my male patients often ask for when coming in for a rhinoplasty consultation. These include:
1. Straight dorsum or bridge
2. No supratip break (eliminating any indentation that defines the tip of the nose)
3. Angle between lip and nose is about 90 to 95 degrees. 


Gary Linkov, MD
Rhinoplasty Specialist
Manhattan

My approach to male rhinoplasty is very conservative. I firmly believe that the key to a natural, handsome nose is always “less is more.” It is important to recognize that what makes a woman’s nose attractive is different from what is attractive in a male nose. Men often come to me concerned about a large dorsal prominence, a downturned nasal tip, and/or a bulbous tip.  Men also have heavier bones along with thicker skin than women. With precision, I gently file bones rather than breaking them, creating a neat, straight line from the root of a man’s nose to the tip, and making sure that a strong masculinity is preserved.  It is important as well that the angle between the upper lip and the nose tip not be turned up in a feminine way. By respecting the above, I enjoy achieving attractive results that make men appear as if they were born with naturally handsome features. It is important to have an in-person consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon with extensive knowledge and experience in male rhinoplasty.  

Although they say there is no accounting for taste, I would agree that a woman can “pull off” more looks than a man, but a successful rhinoplasty in both cases is the one that looks natural. When you take into consideration all facial features of a person, the nose should be in “perfect harmony” with them.
If we are talking about an “attractive male nose”, the general consensus is that it’s a nose that shows character. More precise, that means the nose should not be small or too small, have a defined look/tip, be well proportionated with the chin and can also be a bit longer and wider. Also, which is a big difference when compared with female noses, the male nasal profile should not be curved (slope), but either straight or have a slight bump, to avoid looking operated. These details help achieve a masculine, distinct and natural looking result in a male rhinoplasty.  

Since men and women have different facial structures, they require different approaches to reshaping their noses. Males typically have a longer and larger face with more defined edges along the jaw line and forehead. In my experience, all of these facial and body characteristics need be taken into consideration when crafting a more natural and symmetrical nose. A feminine nose generally has a more curvaceous bridge, in contrast as a general principle a more masculine bridge is a stronger straighter profile. Each and every person is different and for each person it is important to discuss there personal likes and aesthetics. By visiting a facial cosmetic and plastic surgeon expert who specializes in rhinoplasty you will gain a better understanding of the ideal aesthetic outcome from surgery.

There is (and therefore should be in surgery) a major difference between female and male nasal shape. Although skin thickness determines how "round" the nasal contours and breakpoints are, the shape in general has to be "feminine" in women and "masculine" in men. In addition, for the nose to look natural, it must be follow certain ratios and proportions with the patient's facial features.
In general terms, a feminine nose should be smaller in size, the tip more rotated between the tip and the lip (95-110 degrees to be more precise) and the dorsum slightly "scooped". On the other hand, the male nose should be more straight from the side view, with less rotation of the tip (90-95 degrees).
Nasal skin thickness and texture has a big effect on nasal appearance and therefore beauty.  Many males have thicker skin over the nose, causing less definition and therefore shape. What is important however is the overall proportionality of the nose to the face. If within proportional ratios, the nose will look good and natural in aesthetically terms.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey