Plastic Surgery Procedures to Reduce the Size of the Nose
It is important to remember that every nose shape is fine and should be considered completely healthy as long as it does not affect your ability to breathe.
Specialist plastic surgeon Dr Michael Kernohan can help you achieve your aesthetic goals when it comes to the aspect of the nose.
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What is the Best Way to Reduce the Size of My Nose?
Rhinoplasty is generally considered to be the right approach when it comes to making changes to the nose. Otherwise known as a “nose job”, a rhinoplasty can help alter your overall facial appearance by altering your nose size. However, some people would rather avoid having a rhinoplasty. In this situation, they might want to take a look at a few of the alternative options for nose reduction.
What is Rhinoplasty?
In recent years, rhinoplasty, or nose surgery, has grown in popularity with rhinoplasty generally considered the most common facial cosmetic surgery procedure. This procedure alters the form and size of the nose and can produce significant results in overall facial appearance from minor adjustments to the nose size. The unique capacity of rhinoplasty to alter the nasal cartilage according to the patient’s desired results plays a major role in the effectiveness of this procedure.
Although each treatment is tailor-made to the patient’s specific needs, the majority of rhinoplasty procedures include the specific removal of nasal cartilage and bone to lower nose size. In performing certain surgeries to change the contour of the nose, your plastic surgeon could utilise a cartilage graft either to strengthen or enlarge other parts of the nose.
Patients will be placed under either local or general anaesthesia for the procedure so they will not feel any pain during surgery. Any discomfort experienced after rhinoplasty can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. Most post-rhinoplasty symptoms such as a clogged nose or nasal congestion, are caused by swelling from the procedure and will resolve on their own.
The average time for rhinoplasty is about 90 minutes, but more complicated rhinoplasty procedures could take over 2 hours. In addition to reducing the size of the nose, rhinoplasty can also alleviate a variety of problems including an uneven nasal tip. Discussed below are the two main types of rhinoplasty.
Closed Rhinoplasty
In a closed rhinoplasty, no incisions are made on the outer surface of the nose and the patient is awake during the procedure. Some of the benefits of a closed rhinoplasty procedure include the fact that there is less discomfort after the procedure and the fact that it is also less invasive than an open rhinoplasty procedure. A closed rhinoplasty is carried out through the nostrils and can be performed to reduce the size of the nasal cartilage and bones as well as to address many different types of nasal tip variations.
Open Rhinoplasty
This type of rhinoplasty is reserved for nose surgery procedures where the plastic surgeon needs to operate on parts of the nose that can’t be accessed through the nostrils. In an open rhinoplasty, incisions are made outside the nose which enables the plastic surgeon to lift the nasal skin and reveal the underlying nasal structures.
This type of rhinoplasty is often utilised for more difficult secondary and reconstructive procedures. There will be some scarring after the procedure, but these will fade over time. Open rhinoplasty also requires a longer recovery period as it is a more invasive procedure.
It is advisable for patients who have undergone rhinoplasty surgery to take at least a week off of work. Following the treatment, a nasal splint will be placed on your nose for about one and a half weeks before it will be removed. You may experience localised bruising and swelling after your rhinoplasty procedure. This is an expected side effect and occurs especially if your nasal bones have been broken. Despite the dramatic appearance of the bruising, it generallly fades after about ten days.
It is advisable to refrain from all intense activity for at least 4 to 6 weeks after your rhinoplasty procedure to get the best outcomes. It is also important to strictly adhere to your surgeon’s instructions to optimise both your recovery and results.
Other Ways to Reduce Nose Size
There is no proven natural remedy to reduce nose size. Regardless of this fact, many people are still interested in finding a natural, non-invasive way to reduce nose size. It is important to remember this when considering any “at home” treatment that claims to reduce nose size as there is no scientific evidence that establishes the efficacy of these treatments.
Popular “home remedies” for a smaller nose
- Nose exercises: there is still much controversy about the claim that performing nose exercises can alter nose size. Some people firmly believe that maintaining specific facial expressions or performing specific exercises repeatedly can provide long-lasting changes to the shape and size of the nose. The truth, however, is that nose exercises do not make any permanent changes to the size of the nose. This is because the major component of the nose is the nasal cartilage which is covered by thin nasal skin and although muscles can be shaped by exercise, it is almost impossible to reshape cartilage with exercise no matter the number of times you perform nasal exercises
- Ice: the idea that applying ice to your nose can it smaller has some merit. Applying ice to your nose can help it return to its former size and shape if it has grown larger as a result of trauma that has produced swelling. Ice may only be applied as a temporary fix following an injury that has produced swelling of nasal tissues because it has no effect on altering the size of the nasal cartilage and bones
- Toothpaste: other treatments recommended recently include toothpaste and anti-inflammatory substances like ginger and apple cider vinegar. These techniques may have a minor effect in swelling reduction and helping to return the nose to its size following an injury or other physical trauma. However, just like the ice treatment discussed earlier, these techniques have no effect on altering the size of the nasal cartilage and bones and little evidence to support them
Can I Alter the Shape of My Nose without Nose Surgery?
Yes. There are non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures that you can utilise to alter the shape of your nose. Non-surgical rhinoplasty, also known as liquid rhinoplasty, is non-invasive, unlike traditional rhinoplasty procedures. In this procedure, the form of the nose is altered using Volumising treatments rather than using a scalpel. During the procedure, a substance will be injected into your nose. It is important to note that although the size of your nose won’t be reduced by volumising treatments they can alter your nasal contour making it appear smaller.
The results from liquid rhinoplasty are temporary and usually last for about three to six months. The procedure can be performed in 15-30 minutes and the volumising treatment used can help to address minor nasal irregularities like nasal asymmetry. Although liquid rhinoplasty is less expensive when compared to traditional surgical rhinoplasty, the results it produces are considerably less noticeable and only last temporarily.
Can I Make My Nose Smaller with Makeup?
You can apply makeup to instantly change the appearance of your nose and make it look smaller. Even though it is not a long-term solution, makeup can help alter the appearance of your nose. This is known as contouring with makeup and while a lot of contouring techniques can be used to reduce the appearance of your nose, many of them focus on applying a highlighter on the nasal region to manipulate the light reflection and give the impression that your nose is smaller and slimmer.
You can learn how to use contouring with makeup to make your nose look smaller by researching the variety of instructions available online. You can also decide to get your contouring makeup done by a professional makeup artist.
The major steps in applying contouring with makeup include:
- Select a shade of concealer or foundation that is quite similar to the colour of your skin and apply it on the sides of your nose
- Use a sponge to blend until it’s completely even everywhere. Matte setting powder can also be used on it
- Next, draw two lines along the sides of your nose using a bronzer two shades darker than the concealer or foundation used. You can decide how narrow you want your final look to be by the distance between both lines
- Blend the lines until the highlights and shadows give your nose a naturally thinner look
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FAQs about How to Make Your Nose Smaller
Can you make your nose smaller without surgery?
- Nose surgery is the only way to permanently alter the size of the nose. This is because your nose shape is based on your nasal cartilage and bone and while muscles can be shaped by exercise, the only way to reshape the nasal cartilage is by rhinoplasty surgery.
Does squeezing your nose make it smaller?
- No. Nose exercises like repeated nose squeezing do not affect the shape of the nose. This is because the nose is made up of cartilage and while you can sculpt muscles with exercise, it is almost impossible to reshape cartilage with exercise no matter the number of times you squeeze your nose.
Why is my nose so big?
- While your genetic makeup plays a large role in determining the size of your nose, nose size may also change with age. Compared to smaller noses, larger ones have a greater angle from the nostril to the bridge which makes them more conspicuous.
Can I reshape my nose with pressure?
- The size, form, and placement of the nasal bones and cartilage beneath the skin determine the overall shape of the nose. Other than severe physical trauma that breaks the nasal bones, no external pressure is capable of moving these nasal structures.
How can I change my nose shape?
- Rhinoplasty is generally considered to be the optimal approach to changing the shape of the nose.
- You can also change your nose shape through a non-surgical procedure known as a “liquid rhinoplasty.” This procedure is shorter and less invasive than rhinoplasty surgery and it involves the use of Volumising treatments to alter the shape of the nose.
More Information and Blogs by Dr Kernohan
- Rhinoplasty Surgery with Dr Kernohan
- Tip Rhinoplasty Surgery with Dr Kernohan
- Read Dr Kernohan’s Blog about What is a Bulbous Nose?
- Read Dr Kernohan’s blog about Types of Nose Shapes and Nose Jobs
- Read Dr Kernohan’s blog about Will Medicare Cover My Nose Surgery/ Rhinoplasty?
