Cosmetic Nose Surgery in the Mature Patient

The goal of cosmetic nose surgery in the mature patient like everyone else is improvement, not perfection. As the nose ages characteristic changes start to appear. The nose is subject to the effects of gravity just as is every other part of the body. This effect on the nose is to cause the nasal tip to droop as the years pass. The two cartilages which create the tip can sag with time and drop forward enough to expose the tip of the septum. This area, also called the anterior septal angle, it usually is covered over by these tip cartilages. When it becomes exposed, a break in the line of the profile is created. It’s like a second bump, except it is located lower.

Droopy Nose in the Young

It can also sometimes occur in younger noses, but here it’s called a “tension nose”, as the dynamics here are different. Treatment of a sagging tip is either to raise the tip back up to its original position or lower the dorsum to the level of the new tip location. The choice depends on other factors, like whether the bridge of the nose requires other changes or there are other issues with the nasal tip. Often a bit of both is done.

Mature Rhinoplasty

By lifting the tip of the nose, rhinoplasty surgery can give an impression of youth. Even if you don’t want to alter any other features of your nose, this small change alone can have an anti-aging effect. People frequently worry about over rotation of the tip. Over rotation must be avoided, as it can give too much of a view of the nostrils, plus make the nose appear “operated on” at any age. Overdone on a mature nose and it appears particularly odd, as the nose and the rest of the face appear to be at different stages of life. Rotation, like every other positive change in Rhinoplasty, improves the appearance when done in moderation, but creates a strange, unnatural and occasionally freakish look when done in excess.

The Demographics of Rhinoplasty

Although cosmetic nose surgery is a younger person’s operation, it’s not uncommon for people in mid life to want surgery. Often its been a desire for many, many years but life kept getting in the way. Its uncommon in old age, although Dr Smith has performed cosmetic nose surgery on octogenarians. Since older individuals have lived the better portion of their life with their nose, changes should be restricted to only the areas that bother them. Adding unasked for changes because the surgeon feels they will make a greater overall improvement is not recommended.  Occasionally cosmetic nose surgery can trigger a post operative emotional crisis, as people may feel their identity has been taken away. Careful pre-operative discussions and attentive listening can avoid this issue.

Aging Skin Effects

In addition, as you age your skin thickens, while the support from underlying tissues below diminishes. The increased thickness can cause the tip to become rounder and less defined. The loss of support and elasticity reduces the skin’s ability to drape over the altered nasal structures below. This can result in the results taking longer to appear, wrinkling either forming or deepening and may limit the degree of refinement achievable. These factors are taken into account by an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon.

Injectable Rhinoplasty for the Mature Patient

Injectable rhinoplasty or non-surgical rhinoplasty is another cosmetic nose surgery option for the “mature nose job surgery”. One of the best indications for Injectable Rhinoplasty is the slight nasal hump on profile that occurs commonly with aging. By adding tissue filler above and below, the hump can be smoothed out.

Rhinoplasty Expectations

People are pleased with the results of cosmetic nose surgery if undertaken with realistic expectations. Mature Rhinoplasty should be viewed as a way to look as good as you can for your age. The goal should be to feel better about yourself. Cosmetic nose surgery can be an effective way to let someone see in the mirror a face that better reflects the way they feel. This effect on self-esteem can impart a psychological benefit that often cannot be measured by the degree of physical change.