Rhinoplasty and the Aging Process

Geriatric rhinoplasty is a little-known area of rhinoplasty that Dr. Naderi practices. Little can be done to stop the nose from changing with age, but he has found that a conservative rhinoplasty can correct many of those changes.

As we age, the skin can lose elasticity and the tip of the nose may dip. In addition, the nostrils may widen.  These changes can’t be prevented, but they can often be corrected.

What is Geriatric Rhinoplasty?

Geriatric rhinoplasty refers to a number of rhinoplasty techniques chosen to correct the effects of aging on the nose. The changes come from aging of the skin and the tissues beneath it, and lifestyle plays a part as well.

Rhinoplasty helps, but Dr. Naderi may also recommend changes to lifestyle and habits, or other facial treatments or surgery that complement the result.

Typical techniques include:

• supporting the tip of the nose;
• reducing nostril size;
• elevating the tip;
• improving rhinophyma

This last is a condition related to rosacea. The tip of the nose gradually thickens until it becomes large, bulbous and, in many cases, ruddy. It can be corrected with surgery.

Is Your Nose Getting Bigger with Age?

It is something of a myth that noses continue to grow. However, there are some conditions, such as rhinophyma, which cause mass to be added. In addition, the supporting bone and cartilage can deteriorate with time, and skin will lose its elasticity.

The resulting drooping effect, often compounded by the aging of the skin around the nose, can cause the nose to appear to be growing, even when, technically, it isn’t. One of the most common procedures is a simple support suture for the tip of the nose, for example, which takes little time to complete and has a lasting result.

More complex procedures can be used to give more permanent support to the tip of the nose, as well as reduce nostril size and re-drape the skin so that the nose appears smaller and in keeping with the face.

This matters because the face keeps changing shape with age, so the surgeon has to plan for appearance as well as structure. Often that means combining several techniques so the nose suits the face.

Dr. Naderi has more than 20 years of experience with a strong surgical focus on rhinoplasty, and natural-looking results are what he aims for. You can see examples in the before-and-after photos on this website.

To learn more about geriatric and revision rhinoplasty, as well as other complementary cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures, please contact the Naderi Center at 703-481-0002 in Virginia or 301-222-2020 in Maryland for a consultation today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does your nose keep growing as you get older?

Not really. The nose usually looks bigger with age because the supporting cartilage and bone weaken, the skin loses elasticity and the tip droops. Conditions such as rhinophyma can add tissue to the tip.

Can rhinoplasty fix a drooping nose tip caused by aging?

Yes. Dr. Naderi can support and lift a drooping tip, sometimes with a simple support suture and sometimes with more involved techniques that give longer-lasting support. Nostril size can be reduced at the same time if needed.

What is geriatric rhinoplasty?

It is rhinoplasty planned around the changes aging brings to the nose, such as a drooping tip, wider nostrils and weaker support. Dr. Naderi usually takes a conservative approach so the nose still suits the rest of the face.

What is recovery like after rhinoplasty?

Dr. Naderi performs rhinoplasty under general anesthesia, and the surgery takes about 2 hours. The cast stays on for 5 to 10 days, most patients take a week off work, and exercise waits about a month.