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As we grow older, the body treats us to all sorts of surprises. Feet get wider. Hair, eyes, and skin get drier. We lose bone all over the face and body. Which leads us to a curious question many RealSelf readers have been wondering about: Does the nose somehow get bigger as we age?
For patients who may be considering a rhinoplasty or nonsurgical nose job or may be simply noticing gradual changes in their faces, we understand why a growing nose could be a concern. But before you spend too much time worrying, find out what doctors have to say about the nose and its growth spurts. There are no dumb questions in medicine—and your doctor should answer each and every one of your concerns—but here’s one you can scratch off your list.
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First off, know that if you’re no longer a teenager, your nose isn’t going to change drastically. “All noses go through a well-defined development phase during the growth spurt of teen years. This determines one’s overall nasal size and shape,” says NYC board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Grigoriy Mashkevich of Specialty Aesthetic Surgery.
Experts confirm that the nose does not grow during the adult years, but facial changes mean that the appearance of the nose can indeed change. Dr. Melissa Doft, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, explains that the lower portion of the nose is formed from cartilage and skin, which contain elastin and collagen. As we age and collagen and elastin begin to break down, the nose’s appearance can change.
“As the support of the nose weakens, the nose begins to drop or sag, making it look larger,” she says. Dr. Mashkevich confirms that changes can be subtle, if the nose is “well-supported” with ligaments or bone structure, or more dramatic in noses with thick skin (which means lots of collagen) and, therefore, weak supporting structures.
“Thick, or sebaceous nasal skin can thicken over time, contributing to enlargement, specifically in the area of the nasal tip,” says Dr. Mashkevich.
If you’re worried about an enlarged nose, Dr. Mashkevich recommends asking your doctor to analyze the “individual characteristics of your nose and the types of changes taking place.”
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Depending on your individual circumstances, a doctor may suggest “thinning of the thick nasal-tip skin to help reduce the nose’s overall size and appearance,” says Dr. Mashkevich. This procedure would involve removing cartilage, to restore “a more youthful shape and configuration.” According to Dr. Doft, the simplest course of action is a rhinoplasty, “during which the plastic surgeon decreases the size of the tip and adds cartilaginous support so that it does not droop.” As always, consult your doctor to discuss your options—but rest assured that your nose won’t magically turn into Pinocchio’s overnight.
