The Aging Nose

We tend to think that aging only changes the quality of our skin, with our structural features staying as fixed in appearance as stars in the night sky. But it isn’t so! The nose, for example, continues to change with age. The skin becomes thicker and loses elasticity, so it droops.  The cartilage weakens and the tip drifts downward with gravity.  In addition, as we age, we lose bone density and volume. 

Sometimes, this drooping can even interfere with your ability to breathe freely. To test if this is the case for you, push the tip of your nose up with your finger and see if it’s easier to breathe. If it is, nasal tip refinement surgery might benefit you both cosmetically and functionally.

Fortunately, an aging nose can be easily rejuvenated and made to function more efficiently again. All that is needed is a little surgical refinement of the nasal tip and possibly some cartilage grafting. This surgery is like “rhinoplasty light.” No bones are broken and the recovery is fast and nearly painless.

Tip refinement surgery can be combined with other procedures such as a facelift, necklift or blepharoplasty (eyelid lift).

Read about Dr. Yagoda's Integrative Post Operative Care Program