The nose is paradoxically the central part of the human face yet also the least obvious. Because of this, some people might want to make their nose look bigger. Some people want a bigger nose to attract more attention. However, we all have different nose shapes and sizes, and many conditions factor into human nose growth.
Rhinoplasty and filler injections are one of the most widely known invasive procedures that can increase nose size and alter its shape. For non-invasive options, changing your hairstyle, using makeup, or even working selfie angles can also make your nose appear larger and more aesthetic.
Most people believe that nose shapes are genetic, and they’re right. Zaidi et al. (2017) confirmed that nose shapes evolved via complex interactions between climate, sexual selection, and genetic drift. But the climate was a huge factor. People from the northern hemisphere have different nose shapes and sizes than people living in the southern hemisphere. Nose shapes and sizes also vary from male to female.
However, there are still ways to make your nose look bigger. Read on to find some juicy nose enlargement secrets.
And for an overview of important nose aesthetics principles, check out this Looks Theory episode:
Nose Aesthetics
Before you decide to add a bunch of mass to your nose, try to analyze your nose more objectively. It’s often rare that your nose needs to get bigger, as a smaller nose is usually seen as more attractive.
Nasal Index
The nasal index is a measure of the width of your nose and is obtained by dividing the length of the nose by the width. A value of 65 is an average American/Eurocentric value. However, the true average varies widely with ethnicity. People from warmer climates, for example, will have a wider nose.
Nasal Tip Projection
The nasal tip projection ratio measures how far your nose projects. It’s found by dividing the length of the ala by the length of the nose. If your nasal tip projection ratio is close to 2:1, then it’s unlike you need to make your nose bigger.
For more info on nose aesthetics, visit our Nose Shapes Guide.
Rhinoplasty
Plastic surgery is still the most common and the most effective way to make your nose look more prominent. It’s the most highly recommended method for making nose alterations.
Since the human nose is mostly made of cartilage, plastic surgeons can easily alter its shape and size. Not all nasal surgeries are cosmetic, however. Many people have underlying conditions such as blocked nasal passages and deviated septum, which leads to breathing problems and other issues.
If your nose’s size hinders you while breathing because of its small size, then you need a functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). However, you can also have a plastic surgeon work on your nose at the same time, though it won’t be covered by insurance. You could kill two birds with one stone. You would not breathe better, but you would also look great and feel confident.
Even if you are adding mere millimeters to your nose’s size, it can make a massive difference in how you look. Aesthetically speaking, some people find a bigger nose more attractive.
People who live in Asia have significantly smaller noses than their other brothers and sisters from different parts of the world. In countries like South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, getting a rhinoplasty to get a larger nose is pretty common.
However, before you commit to this procedure, you should consult with your doctor to know if you are healthy enough and can withstand the surgery. There could be huge risks involved in this procedure, and you will want to make sure that you are healthy enough for surgery.
It would help if you also remembered that rhinoplasty is highly invasive, and post-surgery side effects can occur. Infections, difficulty in breathing, numbness, and pain are possible side effects of rhinoplasty. However, a board-certified plastic surgeon will help ensure that you avoid all these side-effects while getting the best-looking result after you heal, provided you follow their post-care instructions.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers in the nose, also known as non-surgical rhinoplasty, or a liquid nose job, add more volume to the nose. This filler is hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance also produced by the body.
Over time the fillers get resorbed, and so they must be topped off every few months. A study found that injecting the human nose with HA can have a significant positive impact on nasal defects (Per Heden, MD, 2016). HA promotes healthier-looking skin and can be used to correct minor post-rhinoplasty defects.
Dermal fillers are less invasive than plastic surgery. The risks in using fillers are significantly less than those of surgical rhinoplasty. It is an easier procedure with less downtime and takes no time at all. You would only be present in the clinic for 15 to 20 minutes, and then you’re done.
The downside, however, is that fillers are bad at holding their shape. While the result will look good after injection, the fillers can migrate. However, altering cartilage via rhinoplasty is a permanent solution where your post-op results last forever. A single vial costs hundreds of dollars, so in the long run, fillers might be a more expensive option than rhinoplasty. Fillers can also only ever add mass, not take any away, so they are limited in that regard as well.
Ultimately with fillers, you have to weigh the pros and cons.
Makeup
Makeup is one of the least invasive methods to make your nose look more prominent. With makeup, you don’t have to worry about permanent alterations to your face or any surgical risks and costs. The only thing you’re going to worry about is the technique and the products you’re going to be using.
Makeup can make any nose look bigger, smaller, or alter its perceived shape. By using contouring products, for instance, you can keep the focus on specific aspects of your face. You can use tones that are two shades lighter and two shades darker than your skin tone, which can make your nose appear larger, with the correct application.
One method to make your nose look bigger is to create a line using a darker tone on both sides of the nose that’s wider than the natural bridge. Next, fill in the gaps with the lighter tone and blur the line you made for the nose bridge.
Take a Selfie
Who knew that taking a selfie can help make yourself look more attractive? Try and take a selfie if you want to make your nose look bigger through photos.
Researchers from Rutgers University have studied the variations of nose sizes when taking a selfie. They have found that there are differences with the nose size from photos taken from a certain length away from the face. Specifically, the nose’s base will look 30% wider in selfies while the tip will look 7% wider (Ward et al., 2018).
They found that there were varying differences in nose size from selfies taken 12 inches away and closer by utilizing mathematical modeling. That means taking a selfie with your phone contributes to how big your nose will look in the photo.
