Nasal tip changes from habitual manipulation? (Photo)

Question

I’m a 21 year old female and for the past year I’ve been habitually pinching the rubbing my nasal tip up, believing nasal exercises or some form of manipulation would change my nose somehow. Now, a year later, I think my nasal tip, where the cartilages are, looks fatter and I thinks it’s drooping. Is this possible? Have I really messed up my nose from frequent blowing and rubbing? Why/why not?

Donald Groves, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question and the picture. I actually answered your similar question, also from 3/17/24.

To help other people with similar questions, I have copied my answer here as follows:

Unfortunately, despite what you might find online, nose manipulation exercises and massages do NOT change the shape of the nose or tip! The only effect you might see is creation of a horizontal crease above your tip if you frequently rub your nose or push the tip up (due to the skin folding- similar to how your forehead develops wrinkles as you age). To address the size or shape of the nose, you would need surgery to adjust the underlying structural framework.

Addressing the shape of your nose (especially the nasal tip) is actually one of the most common reasons people seek out and undergo a rhinoplasty. An open septorhinoplasty can best address both your aesthetic concerns and any functional issues with your nose. I would be able to adjust the size, shape, and definition of your nose (especially tip)!

This truly is a surgery of millimeters- and whether you're looking for a minor adjustment or a major transformation, it requires exceptional surgical skill to achieve functional and natural-looking results! Because your nose is the DEFINING feature of your face- I would only recommend seeing a surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty procedures, and who has significant training and experience performing these surgeries. I actually trained under one of the world leading rhinoplasty experts (who performs 1,000+ nosejobs annually).

I recommend for you to setup a formal consultation with me (or another plastic surgeon who is extremely comfortable with rhinoplasties) to thoroughly discuss your surgical goals, undergo a formal examination, evaluate your options, and develop a personalized plan just for you. I hope this helps!

Dr. Donald Groves
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Everyone has ligaments that extend from the lower bridge to the nasal tip. Overtime, these ligaments get stretched from gravity and peoples tips tend to droop with age. Excessive manipulation could accelerate this process. Thank you for your question. Sincerely, Dr. Joseph

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

It is possible that you've created some sort of reaction which is making the skin thicker, but, much more likely is that it's just the cartilages are visible through thin skin.  A rhinoplasty is going to be what you want to change the cartilage.

Nasal tip changes from habitual manipulation? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Nonsurgical Nose Job

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Nasal tip changes from habitual manipulation? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Nonsurgical Nose Job

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