Can your nose shape change over the years after rhinoplasty?

Thank you for your question. Your nose will change over time, just as your nose would change in shape if you did not have any surgery over the course of your life as a result of ageing of the tissues. Modern day rhinoplasty is directed towards adding structural support and longevity to results. It is unlikely that if you had a large dorsal hump removed that it would return after 30 years but there would be other subtle changes in the appearance of the nose as it ages. Human tissue is dynamic and there are many factors that can affect long term results.Best of luck!RegardsDr Guy Watts

As you age, your nose will change. This is a natural process that anyone experiences, and is attributed to the loss of collagen in the skin, disintegration and descent of fat pads and changes in your craniofacial skeleton. You may find that the tip starts to drop and your nose may look larger. However, with a properly performed nose job, your results will provide satisfying results long term. 

Nasal tips and dorsum change gradually
as the years go on. You can see
the final result on a nose in 3 to
5 years, especially on a secondary nose. If
you have functional and structure loss it may change and
gradually collapse nose long term.

Generally speaking, your nose should not change appreciably after a rhinoplasty. This assumes that tip support was maintained and that other areas of possible structural weakness were corrected. As one ages, the ligaments holding the tip cartilages in position tend to weaken. Since the tip cartilages rest on the upper lip and since there is atrophy with aging in the upper lip, we see the tip gradually fall down somewhat. This is mistakenly thought of as "continued growth"...it is not. And if the rhinoplasty is performed correctly, the support that was placed and the scarring that has formed should prevent this. However, we do see occasional skin changes that may look like the nose is getting fuller, "bumpy" or "droopy" if the skin thickens or thinner and more defined if it thins out.

Although our noses do change with age, you should not see a signficant difference in the dorsal hump and tip cartilages once treated with rhinoplasty simply as a result of changes due to aging.