How Do Noses Change Shape?

Generally noses can change during the adolescent growth spurt and are one fo the last structures to mature wiht puberty. After that noses generally remain stable. However with passage of decades, the typically becomes more lax as does the cartilaginous structures of the nose and the resulting loss of support can make the tip appear to plunge, the nose appear to lengthen, and the humpt to appear larger.

Hello and thank you for your question. Your nasal appearance will not change with weight changes. If you would like to change it, the best way to do so is with a Rhinoplasty. 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

Your nose size should not change with weight gain.  Cosmetic surgery is a personal choice and one should not have surgery at the suggestion of others.  If you are unhappy with your nose, please consult with a board certified plastic surgeon or a board certified facial plastic surgery.  During your visit, they should analyze your nasal shape and size along with your other facial features.  Your rhinoplasty surgeon should have experience and expertise in rhinoplasty so you can avoid needing a revision rhinoplasty.  Ask to see before and after photos of the surgeon's own patients.   

Weight gain does not effect the shape of a nose. However, with age the tissues become lax and nasal tip starts to droop and can make the nose look bigger than it is. RegardsDr. Janjua

In general, noses don’t change their overall shape.  However, there are a few points to be made here.  One is that in general, patients with thin nasal skin will find over time that the skin will get even thinner; as if it “shrink wraps” onto the underlying cartilage and bone.  In this instance, any slight irregularity will become very obvious.  During rhinoplasty perichondrium (lining of the nasal septal cartilage) or fascia (thin lining of muscle) can be strategically placed as a thin buffer between the nasal skin and the underlying cartilage or bone, preventing the severe thinning/shrink wrapping that can eventually occur.

Another possibility is the skin of the nose can become thicker with time.  This typically occurs with Acne Rosacea, and along with the accompanying redness and thickening of the cheeks, the nose can become dramatically bulbous from this skin condition requiring surgery in which the skin is planed down with a laser to recreate better definition and a more refined nasal tip.Weight gain or loss will not change the shape of the nose at all.  Yet because the cheeks have prominent fat in them, should they become larger or smaller, the ratio or perspective of the relative size of the cheeks to the nose can give the illusion of the nose appearing larger or smaller.

Finally, patients that have weak nasal tip cartilage will notice over the decades that the tip will start to droop.  This can be corrected with rhinoplasty to avoid this if caught early, or to correct it in the later stages of time.

Hope you found this answer helpful.  All the best!

may change shape with aging. We often see that the tip has dropped downward and toward the face giving the appearance of a hump on the bridge (some people see this as the nose "growing", but it really isn't). Also, the appearance (but not shape) may change depending on any change in the width of your face (a wider face will make the nose appear narrower by relationship). I believe it would be extraordinarily difficult to achieve this with weight gain, not to mention it would be detrimental to your health. Some patients may achieve a wider appearance to their face with fat injections or cheek implants.