Nose Getting Bigger - Will Rhinoplasty Help?

As you age, the fibrous attachments between the cartilages of the nose can weaken, resulting in drooping of the tip and accentuation of the "hooked" appearance of the nose. In addition, this can lead to narrowing of the external valve of the nose, causing difficulty breathing. The skin envelope of the nose can thicken with time as well. It seems as though you would be a candidate for rhinoplasty to improve the appearance of your nose. If you additionally have a deviated septum and difficulty breathing through your nose, it's possible that insurance coverage may offset a portion, but not all, of the cost of the procedure. 

Regards,

Dr. Mehta

As we age, the soft tissues in the nose can weaken which can allow the tip to droop some and the nose to look bigger.

Noses don't grow after 14-16 years of age which is why we wait until this age to offer surgery to many people.  However, the aging process continues.  As it continues, ligaments stretch allowing the nose to droop and the skin thins over the hump and we lose fatty tissue in the nose; all of these things make the nose 'look' larger when it's still the same nose but now lower and flatter because of the structural support loss.  Re-establishing the structural support by strengthening the cartilages can restore the nose you once had.  The hump can be removed, the cartilages narrowed, the breathing improved but the skin cannot be thickened as was once the case.  Volume can be added with cartilage taken from the septum improving the appearance of the nose as well.  Look for a plastic surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasties and talk to a couple of them so you can educate yourself about your nose. 

I tend to disagree withh some of the opinions stated below. Although the nasal skeleton stops growing by the age of 16-18, the cartilagenous structure of the nasal tip can comtinue to grow especially if you have a genetic predisposition. For example, if your father or mother have a large bulbous tip, you have that genetic program. Older people often have larger noses and ears. You are an attractive woman and based on your pictures, you would be an excellent candidate for rhinoplasty. During a rhinoplasty, the nasal tip cartilages are sculpted narrowing and refining the tip. 

                  The
nose typically stops growing between 14 and 16 years of age in most patients.
Although the nose doesn’t continue to grow, it does continue to change. Gravity
can have a significant impact on the nose and over the course of time, it can
cause the nasal tip soft tissue to sag. This can change the nasal appearance
and dramatically impact facial aesthetics.

                  Although,
the nasal problems that you describe are not related to growth, they can still
be addressed with rhinoplasty surgery. For this reason, consultation with a
board certified plastic surgeon with rhinoplasty experience is appropriate.

Your photograph only shows one view but you do appear to have a widened dorsum and by history a dorsal hump.  I think a rhinoplasty could improve the appearance of your nose and if you have a deviated septum that impairs your breathing then you could have the procedures done simultaneously.

Rhinoplasty will correct hypertrophy of the nasal bone and cartilage. Based on your consultation with your plastic surgeon, it seems as though you are a candidate for a cosmetic rhinoplasty.

Please do not be too hypercritical of your appearance.  Part of what is perceived as attractive in all of us is confidence.  Don't let a minor issue with your nose bring you down. 

Could you benefit from a cosmetic rhinoplasty?  This is subjective, but I would say yes.  Based upon your old photos, I would perform a cephalic trim and infractures to narrow the nasal base.  Based upon what you describe, a dorsal hump reduction may help.  If you are uncertain about the billing practices of the doctor you saw in consultation, see another one.  In fact, I would visit several until you find the one that you are confident will deliver the results you seek.  Rhinoplasty is not a minor procedure, and you should take your time in choosing the right physician for you. 

The nose stops growing by 14-16 in most cases.  The appearance of the nose may seem larger, or a hump may appear stronger with time, because of the following factors:

1) the tip looses support and droops more, therefore accentuating the hump. 

2) the volume of the cheeks diminish as we loose facial fat, leading to a more prominent appearing nose. 

Often times, this can be treated with relatively simple procedures to reestablish tip support and restore the lost cheek volume. 

Ladies' noses generally stop growing at age 16. What that means is that the underlying structure that give the nose its size and shape (i.e. the bone and cartilage) do not continue the grow. However, the tissue attachments between the cartilage and bone tend to weaken with time. This can cause the nasal tip to drop. When the tip drops, the bridge of the nose may look more prominent (so the hump "comes back"). In some, this loss of support also leads to breathing problems. 

Rhinoplasty can help restore nasal tip support and produce a nice harmony between the height of the nasal bridge and nasal tip. Permanent sutures are used to shape and support the tip and any residual bump on the bridge can be reduced.

There are other causes of a nose changing size with time. The muscle, fat, and skin overlying the bone and cartilage generally thin with aging. However is some, the sebaceous glands in the nose begin to grow too much and cause a condition called Rhinophyma (which is closely related to a more common condition called Rosacea). Rhinophyma will result in changes in the texture and thickness of the nasal skin and can be treated both medically and surgically.

Visit with a facial plastic surgeon for more information.