If you feel like your nose is a distraction, you may wonder how you can make your nose look smaller.
The most effective way to make your nose look smaller is rhinoplasty. In some cases, people can opt for dermal fillers for their nose to strategically smoothen out their nose. If you wear makeup, then you can try to contour and highlight your nose to enhance the shape.
For a primer of the importance of the nose on attractiveness, check out this Looks Theory episode:
Rhinoplasty
The most efficient way to get a smaller nose is to get rhinoplasty commonly called a nose job. The surgery can reshape your nose to make it smaller and better proportioned.
A nose job can do more than enhance your facial harmony. In some cases, patients can get the procedure to improve both the nose’s aesthetics and function. It can also correct abnormalities from birth defects or trauma.
However, some people may not need a total nose job to get a better-looking nose. There may be only one part of your nose that needs adjustment to make it look better.
For instance, if the tip of your nose is large and not in proportion to the other parts, you may only need to make your tip smaller.
Different types of surgeries will suit different patients based on their needs.
Open Rhinoplasty
This type of rhino is often for major nose reshaping. The procedure lets the surgeon get the best view of the nasal anatomy, allowing them to efficiently reconstruct your nose.
The surgery gets done on a case-by-case basis. People who want major changes like modifying the nasal tip are candidates for this surgery. Typically, it is not a choice for people under 18 years old.
To start the procedure, a surgeon will make incisions in the vertical strip of skin that separates your nostrils. Your surgeon will then lift the soft tissue and skin to expose the whole nasal anatomy.
Closed Rhinoplasty
This type of rhinoplasty is usually for minor nose reshaping. It is less invasive than open rhinoplasty. The procedure can change the angle, size, or shape of the nose. It can also correct specific breathing problems if there are irregularities in your nose.
Unlike the open version, the incisions will be inside your nose, decreasing your chance of scarring. However, a surgeon cannot get the same visualization as the open variant and might use an endoscope for better visualization.
Ethnic Rhinoplasty
This procedure is often to achieve a “Western” nose, which is smaller and slimmer in shape. The procedure can lift the nose higher, make it thinner, etc., give you a more “Western” nose.
Usually, a surgeon will have to extract cartilage from your ear or ribcage. The cartilage will enhance the nasal projection, reshape your nose, and build a nasal bridge.
Secondary Rhinoplasty
Also known as revision rhinoplasty, it usually is to correct problems that are still present after previous nose surgeries. Additionally, it can fix issues that happen after nose surgery. It can be an open or closed procedure.
You can get secondary rhinoplasty if you are not happy with the results of your previous procedure. You may also get it if you have trouble with your nose-breathing ability after previous surgeries.
Keep in mind that it would always be best to consult a plastic surgeon before getting any procedure. They will know what nose shape will best suit your face. For instance, you may want to get a button nose. A plastic surgeon may disagree with that idea because it would not suit your face shape. However, the surgeon would also suggest alternative nose shapes to help you achieve what you want.
Liquid Rhinoplasty (Dermal Fillers)
Another type of rhinoplasty procedure that you can get is liquid rhinoplasty. A surgeon will use injectable fillers to restore symmetry, smooth out sharp angles, etc. These are very similar to dermal fillers used for the cheekbones, jaws, etc.
It does not actually make your nose smaller because it only adds volume. However, it can create an illusion of a slimmer, more attractive nose. It can accompany surgery to enhance your results (Hedén et al., 2016). The goal of the nose isn’t to be small. It’s to not have obvious flaws and let the eyes move on to other parts of your face. Liquid rhino can help you achieve that.
For instance, you may have a large bump on the bridge of your nose. Liquid rhinoplasty can add volume to the areas around the bump, creating a more even bridge. Additionally, it can make your nose look more evenly proportioned.
Sharp nose angles may make your nose look bigger than it is. The fillers can blend your nose angles to make the lines smoother and more proportional.
Ideally, you want your nose to be less of a distraction rather than the main focus. Many plastic surgeons will agree that the less attention the nose brings, the better. While liquid rhinoplasty does not necessarily make your nose look smaller, it can help make it more balanced, giving you a better-looking nose.
The procedure typically lasts for 30 minutes. The effects will generally last for one year, but it will vary from patient to patient. You need to get the procedure again after one year if you want to keep your results.
Not everyone will be able to achieve the look that they want with dermal fillers. For instance, if you have a bulging nose tip, then dermal fillers may not help you. While they could make your bridge slightly larger and smooth out the bump of your nose tip, there is a chance that they may make your nose larger.
Liquid rhinoplasty to get a “smaller” nose is usually an option for a more proportional, smoother nose. If your nose is huge on the tip or in general, dermal fillers may not be right.
Contour and Highlighter
If you wear makeup, then you can use it to your advantage. Strategically contouring and highlighting your face can give you the illusion of a smaller nose without surgery.
However, you need to make sure you contour and highlight according to your nose shape. Most tutorials you will see online will follow the same contouring and highlighting method, which does not work for everyone.
Here is a guide that will help you learn where to contour based on your face and nose shape.
As you can see, the strategic placement of contour can help enhance your nose. For instance, the contour is put on one side of the nasal bridge for an asymmetrical nose to make one side look smaller. If you have a huge nose bridge, you can place the contour along the sides of your nose, letting the lines go slightly inward to create a smaller nose.
However, you need to make sure you blend out the contour well. The contour should look more like a shadow instead of a line. If the lines are too harsh, they will look fake and bring more attention to your nose.
Generally, you put highlighter on the tip and bridge of your nose. However, you always have to consider your nose shape before you decide where to put it.
If you have a wide nasal tip, then you will not want to highlight the tip of your nose. You can place highlights on the bridge of your nose if you want more focus on the length, not the width.
