The Aging Process of the Nose and Midlife Rhinoplasty

The area where signs of aging are first noticed and most visibly appear on the face is the eyelid skin sagging, so upper blepharoplasty and lower blepharoplasty are considered representative procedures in midlife plastic surgery.

However, facial aging is a physical phenomenon that occurs throughout the entire face, and some people also notice aging in the nose.

If you look up the recent appearances of famous actresses from the past, you can see changes in the nose as well as wrinkles and sagging skin on the face.

Sophie Marceau, recent and past appearances. Facial aging and nasal aging

In particular, for Westerners, the nose is generally larger and longer than that of East Asians, so nasal aging is more noticeable than in East Asians.

"The Structure of the Nose and the Aging Process of the Nose"

Looking at the structure of the nose, from the top it is made up of the nasal bone, upper lateral cartilage, and alar cartilage.

The structure of the nose and various ligament tissues

Between the upper lateral cartilage and the alar cartilage, there are various ligament tissues, and as people age, these ligament tissues loosen, causing the nasal tip to droop.

Also, as the facial skin becomes thinner due to aging and subcutaneous fat decreases, the nasal bone and nasal cartilages become more visible through the thinner skin, which can make a hump nose look more pronounced.

Side view according to facial aging. Appearance according to nasal aging

So, when you look at facial aging from the side, you can see that the overall length of the nose becomes longer, the nasal tip droops downward, and the hump nose becomes more pronounced.

Hong Kong actress Brigitte Lin, recent and past appearances. Facial aging and the aging process of the nose

In East Asians, the skin is thicker and the nose is smaller than in Westerners, so nasal aging is not as pronounced as it is in Westerners. However, if you compare photos from 30 years ago, you can clearly see that the nose has become longer and the nasal tip has drooped.

"Midlife Rhinoplasty"

Rhinoplasty is generally not classified as anti-aging plastic surgery, but correcting nasal aging can definitely give the face a younger look.

Drooping nasal tip and hump. Nasal aging

Thinned skin on the nasal tip. Nasal aging

Midlife rhinoplasty needs to be approached somewhat differently from rhinoplasty for younger people, and if the goal is simply to improve an aged appearance, there is no need to use a silicone implant on the bridge of the nose.

Of course, if the bridge of the nose is too low, it is better to use a silicone implant, but in rhinoplasty aimed at a younger look, implant-free rhinoplasty can also produce sufficiently good results.

Diagram of implant-free rhinoplasty in midlife rhinoplasty

To correct a drooping nasal tip, a septal extension graft is used at the tip to improve the droop, and ear cartilage grafting is needed to smooth the level difference between the hump area and the nasal tip.

Rhinoplasty that is performed using only the patient's own cartilage materials without using a silicone implant is called implant-free rhinoplasty.

In midlife rhinoplasty that corrects nasal aging, implant-free rhinoplasty requires delicate work.

Because the skin of the nose has become thinner, it is important to carefully smooth out irregularities on the bridge of the nose, and any crooked areas of the bridge or tip must also be delicately corrected to achieve aesthetic satisfaction.

And if the skin has become thin, it is good to add ear cartilage grafting or dermal grafting to the nasal tip.

2 weeks after midlife rhinoplasty

2 weeks after midlife rhinoplasty

Rather than viewing midlife rhinoplasty simply as rhinoplasty performed after middle age, it can be considered a type of rhinoplasty that, together with anti-aging plastic surgery, gives a slightly younger look without significantly changing the current image.

And in midlife rhinoplasty, if it is not absolutely necessary, implant-free rhinoplasty that does not use a silicone implant can also produce good results.

In particular, if someone has a long nose, arrow nose, or hump nose, they may look older than their actual age. Correcting these can create a younger-looking impression.

Midlife plastic surgery, youthful-appearance plastic surgery, review of midlife rhinoplasty. This is a real model who consented to the release.