Will weight loss make my nose look thinner, or do I need to consider rhinoplasty? (photo)

The nasal anatomy has very little if any fat tissue. Therefore, changes in weight will not have a significant effect on the nose size and shape. Nasal bones and cartilages and the nasal skin thickness determine the nasal shape and size regardless of your weight.
Hope this helps,
Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Hello and thank you for your question. Based on your two photographs, you may benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty. Your surgeon can accomplish this by trimming, suturing, and reshaping the cartilage in your lower nose. Cartilage grafts may also be used to help improve tip refinement. Weight changes will not affect the appearance of your nose. 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

Thank you for your question and photos. Since the nose is primarily made up of cartilage and bone, with little fatty tissue, weight fluctuations will not affect its appearance. If you are unhappy with your nose, I would recommend scheduling a consultation with an experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon who can assess you in person and discuss your concerns and goals in greater detail. With a qualified surgeon and a customized surgical plan, you should see a very good result if you decide to move forward with nose surgery.

Great question!  You're spot on when you mentioned that the nose exists in harmony with the rest of the face.  Our approach to rhinoplasty is to rebalance the nose to improve this harmony.  Weight loss will not change the shape of the nose, but it will change how the nose relates to the face.  If you're thinking about nasal surgery, it wouldn't hurt to consult with a Facial Plastic Surgeon.  The best recommendations come from an in-person exam and complete set of nasal photographs.  Best of luck!

Weight gain or loss will not change the shape or size of the nose. However, your face may change with weight loss, and can affect the way the nose appears in proportion to the rest of your face. Weight loss may actually make your nose appear larger, and weight gain may make it appear smaller.

You have a beautiful profile, and I agree from the front view, your nose is a bit broad-based. Losing weight may change the fullness of your face, but will not change your nose, and may in fact make your nose look slightly broader. My best advice is not to worry about your weight, and see a facial plastic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty. Changing the nasal tip is one of the hardest things for a rhinoplasty surgeon to master. Find an experienced surgeon who can provide computer imaging so you both are on the same page about your aesthetic goals.

Weight loss doesn't really affect the nose. From the photos, the tip of your nose does appear a bit wide. Rhinoplasty can make it thinner and balance the nose nicely. Be sure to see rhinoplasty specialists for consultation.

Weight gain or loss will not affect the size of your nose.  If you are unhappy with the shape or size of your nose, please consult with a rhinoplasty surgeon.  Explain the things about your nose that are bothersome to you.  It is key to select a board certified plastic surgeon or board certified facial plastic surgeon with extensive experience and expertise in rhinoplasty surgery.  During the consult, the rhinoplasty surgeon will analyze your nasal shape and size and how it fits with your other facial features.  You want your first rhinoplasty to be your only rhinoplasty so it is important to choose a surgeon with the qualities mentioned above.

It’s not unusual for patients to note loss of facial subcutaneous tissue when they lose weight. These changes can significantly impact facial aesthetics. The loss of subcutaneous fat can cause boney prominences to have more definition. In addition significant weight loss can cause skin sag as well.
                Weight loss will have no impact upon the nasal structures. In some cases, weight loss may actually make nasal deformities more pronounced because of lost subcutaneous fat in the cheeks.

                Unfortunately, the only way to make your nose thinner is with rhinoplasty surgery. This requires consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. This surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your anatomic findings and achieves your aesthetic goals.

Losing or gaining weight is a common misconception that your actual nose will change. Losing weight will not cause a significant difference. The nose is composed of soft tissue and cartilage. There is no fat in your nose so loosing weight will not cause your desired result. I recommend considering a rhinoplasty to address your cosmetic concerns.