Can a nose ever be "too small" for a woman's face?

Question

All the time, you can see a woman and go "ugh her nose is so big" but i've never heard anyone say "ugh that's gross her nose is so small". it's more of a compliment. the smaller and thinner, the better it seems. can a nose ever be too small? my nose is average sized but i want it to be even smaller

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

It is all a matter of taste. Even if the result of a rhinoplasty is excellent, the nose can be either too small or indeed too big for the face and it's anatomic features. The same thing goes breasts, where you can have a beautiful breast augmentation but the breasts are too big for the patients frame. Think of it like putting 22 inch wheels on a fiat. Performing a rhinoplasty is like making a good piece of furniture, but an artistic surgeon must also be a good interior designer and scale the rhinoplasty to the rest of the face. There are a number of celebrities who have had a rhinoplasty that are too small for their face. Think Michael Jackson and Heidi Klum. When you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon, make sure to view plenty of before and after photos t get a sense of their aesthetic.

Toby Mayer, MD · Answer

Yes indeed a nose can be made too small as well as not having proper proportions. The overdone nose job look is in fact too small and poorly shaped. This can be avoided by selecting  a very experienced rhinoplasty surgeon who does natural looking noses.

Curtis Perry, MD · Answer

Noses can most definitely be over resected from rhinoplasty with the results being a nose that is not only unattractive but leaving the patient unable to breath properly.

Victor Chung, MD · Answer

Rhinoplasty is a surgery to improve the shape of the nose for breathing or appearance.Making the nose smaller, more refined, or more narrow is a common request. I like to use 3D image simulation to get on the same page as my patients. It is useful to demonstrate the limits of how narrow a nose can be. The ideal nose needs to be in balance with the rest of the face.  Additionally, a narrow nose can block your ability to breath. If you have a breathing problem, it will ruin the best looking nose. Safety comes first.

Terrence Higgins, MD · Answer

Thank you for your questions.

There certainly are ideal facial proportions that if violated can be aesthetically unpleasant.
A nose made too small can throw your entire facial balance off.

Seek out a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.
Best of luck to you!

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Yes, of course it can.  A full set of  Facial photographs are required to make a determination about what can be accomplished with a rhinoplasty procedure.    It is very important that all the components of the nose balance with themselves and the entire new nose balances with the patient's  facial features.

Michael Hakimi, MD · Answer

Of course, as Dr. Mayer pointed out, it is all about proportions and a very small nose would not be aesthetically pleasing. Also, it can affect your breathing. You must see a plastic surgeon and seek their opinion after face to face examination.

Michael Elam, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear rosiecon12, Yes a nose can be to small for a patients face. Perhaps you do not hear that complaint however as surgeons we see patients who do complain of this especially those who may have had their noses over reduced and would have preferred a more natural appearance. Imaging is a good tool during consultation to show the patient the proposed results and discuss if this is their desired result. See examples of natural looking rhinoplasty results in the link below and video above. Best regards, Michael V. Elam, M.D.

Can a nose ever be "too small" for a woman's face?

Answers (8)

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