In yesterday’s blog we talked about how and why your skin wrinkles as you get older. Today we’re going to talk about a different age-related change you might not be aware of. Believe it or not, your nose changes shape as you age. What will happen to my nose? As you get older, every part of your nose grows, including the width of your nostrils and the overall surface area. Also, the angle of the tip of your nose decreases because your nose starts to droop. Men and women of all ethnicities experience this. Not only does the shape change affect the look of the nose, but in some cases it can affect how people breathe, too. Why does my nose change size? Your nose, like the rest of your body, is covered in skin. Our skin’s firmness and elasticity are maintained primarily with proteins called collagen and elastin. As we age, particularly once we hit the age of 20, our body begins producing less of both, decreasing this suppleness. Also, fat deep in the skin diminishes, which can make the skin looser and saggier. On top of that, in some people the glands in their skin may enlarge, which makes the nose both wider and heavier. Can anything be done for my nose? If you are unhappy with the size or shape of your nose, especially with the changes brought on by age, you may want to consider a rhinoplasty. A rhinoplasty, or “nose job,” is a facial plastic surgery procedure designed to reshape and reconstruct the nose. Rhinoplasties can help with both the functional and cosmetic aspects of your changing nose. If your primary concern is breathing, other procedures can be performed on the inside of your nose that can improve your breathing, if not the appearance of your nose, CEENTA ENT doctor F.P. Johns Langford, MD, said. A changing nose is no cause for alarm, but if you have any problems with your nose, regardless of its size or your age, please make an appointment with a CEENTA doctor. This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your doctor. Doctor Langford practices in our Concord office. To make an appointment with him or any of CEENTA’s doctors, call 704-295-3000. You can also schedule an appointment online or through myCEENTAchart.
