Can wearing a N95 mask as a healthcare worker for 8 hours a day every day change the appearance of your nose?

Question

The mask applies a lot of pressure on the nose and pushes the cartilage portion down.

Lucian Ion, FRCS · Answer

As you can fully appreciate, we live in situations without precedent, and a large number of effects will only be understood in the following years.

There is a natural tendency for the nasal tip to rotate down in certain nasal configurations. Typically, if you look at your parents and notice that the nasal tip has dropped slightly over time when comparing their photos in youth and later in life, there is a possibility that it may affect you irrespective of external pressure.

One could assume that the external pressure could make this problem happen sooner, but there is no scientific observation to back this up. If you can mould the mask over the bridge and direct the top elastic strip high on the head, it will reduce the tension that the mask applies over the nasal tip. Even if the mask would not produce a negative impact despite long hours of use, it may make you feel more comfortable if the pressure is on the nasal bridge then if it is on the nasal tip.

Matthew Bridges, MD, FACS · Answer

Interesting question unique to this weird time we're in.  The answer is no as far as I'm concerned.  I'm not sure how it could alter the shape of your nose unless you had just recently had surgery or trauma to it.

Robert Singer, MD · Answer

The simple answer is no, it will not change the shape of your nose.Robert Singer, MD  FACS
  
La Jolla, California

Can wearing a N95 mask as a healthcare worker for 8 hours a day every day change the appearance of your nose?

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Can wearing a N95 mask as a healthcare worker for 8 hours a day every day change the appearance of your nose?

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Everything you need to know about Rhinoplasty

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.