As the central feature of the face, the nose is one of the first things you notice about a person. So it is important that you feel happy with your nose shape.

The nose comes in various shapes and sizes, from the prominent and straight bridge of a Roman nose to the upturned tip of a button nose. Each type has an impactful influence on your overall facial aesthetics.

These distinct nose shapes contribute to the diversity of human appearance, reflecting individuality and cultural influences.

Some of the Most Common Nose Shapes

Roman Nose 

• Alternate Name: Straight Nose. 
• Characteristics: Prominent and straight bridge, slightly bent appearance, strong and defined profile. Approximately 9% of people have a Roman nose. 
• Celebrities: Ryan Gosling, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Middleton. 

Button Nose 

• Alternate Name: Dainty Nose. 
• Characteristics: Small with a slightly upturned tip.  
• Celebrities: Katie Holmes, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Bosworth. 

Greek Nose 

• Alternate Name: Straight Nose 
• Characteristics: Remarkably straight bridge, free of curves or humps, associated with classic beauty. Around 3% of people have a Greek nose.  
• Celebrities: Jennifer Aniston, Kate Middleton. 

Turned-Up Nose 

• Alternate Name: Celestial Nose 
• Characteristics: Small with a slight dent in the bridge and a protruding tip, imparting a youthful appearance. Around 13% of people have a turned-up nose.  
• Celebrities: Emma Stone, Carey Mulligan. 

Fleshy Nose 

• Alternate Name: Einstein Nose  
• Characteristics: Fuller and rounded shape, weak cartilage, fleshy tip turned downwards, adds softness to facial features. Statistics show that over 24% of people in the world have a fleshy nose. 
• Celebrities: Tom Hardy, Barbra Streisand. 

Nubian Nose 

• Alternate Name: Wide Nose 
• Characteristics: Broad and elongated, longer bridge with a wide base. The tip points slightly downwards and it features broader nostrils. 
• Celebrities: Beyonce, Gabrielle Union. 

Crooked Nose 

• Alternate Name: Deviated Nose. 
• Characteristics: Noticeable bends or twists that result from genetics or injury. 
• Celebrities: Owen Wilson. 

Long Nose 

• Characteristics: Elongated, straight or slightly curved, adds an elegant touch to the face. 
• Celebrities: Adrien Brody.  

Bulbous Nose 

• Characteristics: Large mass or swelling on the lower half, characteristic of rhinophyma. Less than 0.5% of people have a bulbous nose.  
• Celebrities: Bill Clinton.  

Snub Nose 

• Alternate Name: Mirren Nose 
• Characteristics: Small and slightly rounded, with a subtle upward slope at the tip. Around 5% of people have a snub nose.  
• Celebrities: Helen Mirren. 

Hawk Nose 

• Alternate Names: Beak Nose, Aquiline Nose 
• Characteristics: Dramatic curved shape, prominent bridge, resembles the curved beak of a hawk. Around 4.9% of people have a hawk nose.  
• Celebrities: Adrien Brody, Daniel Radcliffe. 

Bumpy Nose 

• Characteristics: Irregular outline, subtle or prominent curve in the dip. Around 9% of people have a bumpy nose.  
• Celebrities: Barbra Streisand.  

East Asian Nose 

• Characteristics: Slim, flat shape with a shorter tip, common among East Asian regions. 
• Celebrities: Lucy Liu.  

Nixon Nose 

• Characteristics: A straight bridge curving at the end into a wider tip, is extremely uncommon and occurs in less than 1% of the population. 
• Named After: Richard Nixon. 

Combo Nose 

• Characteristics: Features of various nose types combined to create a unique shape that essentially doesn’t fit into any one category neatly.  

Can Your Nose Shape Be Changed?

Yes, five main surgical options can change the shape of your nose.

Septoplasty

• Primarily, it is a functional procedure to correct issues with the nasal septum, such as a deviated septum. 
• It involves making incisions inside the nose to access the septum. The surgeon then straightens or repositions the cartilage and bone to improve airflow. 

Turbinate Reduction (Turbinoplasty)

• A functional procedure aimed at addressing enlarged turbinates, which can obstruct nasal passages. 
• It involves reducing the size of the nasal turbinates, typically by trimming or repositioning the soft tissues to alleviate nasal congestion and improve breathing. 

Rhinoplasty

• Primarily a cosmetic procedure to enhance the appearance of the nose or address functional concerns. 
• This procedure involves modifying the bone, cartilage, and soft tissues of the nose to achieve aesthetic goals. This may include altering the nasal bridge, refining the tip, or adjusting the nostrils.

Types of Rhinoplasty

Reduction Rhinoplasty

Focuses on decreasing the overall size or specific features of the nose, addressing concerns related to proportions and symmetry.

Augmentation Rhinoplasty

Aims to enhance the nose's shape or size, often using implants, grafts, or filler injections for volume and contour improvements.

Post-Trauma Rhinoplasty

Corrects and restores the nose's shape after injury or trauma, addressing both aesthetic deformities and functional issues.

Revision/Corrective Rhinoplasty

Adjusts or corrects issues from a previous rhinoplasty, ensuring optimal results and addressing any complications or dissatisfaction.

Reconstructive Rhinoplasty

Necessary for individuals with congenital deformities, severe injuries, or those requiring extensive nose reconstruction due to various medical reasons.

Refinement Rhinoplasty

Focuses on subtle changes to improve the overall aesthetics of the nose, often addressing minor imperfections or asymmetries.

If you're a man considering rhinoplasty, your goals may revolve around enhancing masculine facial features. Common objectives include refining the nasal bridge, addressing a prominent dorsal hump, and ensuring the nose's proportion to your face is balanced.

It focuses on maintaining a strong and well-balanced profile while preserving and enhancing the unique characteristics of male facial anatomy.  You can consult with our skilled facial plastic surgeons to discuss your goals and determine the most suitable type of rhinoplasty.   

Alarplasty

• Focuses on reshaping the alar or nostrils of the nose. 
• It involves making incisions at the base of the nostrils to remove excess tissue or adjust the shape of the alar. This procedure is often done to address wide nostrils or asymmetry. 

Nasal Tip Surgery (Tip Rhinoplasty)

• Target the nasal tip to refine its shape and appearance. 
• Tip rhinoplasty modifies the cartilage and tissues at the tip of the nose. Surgeons can adjust the projection, rotation, or definition of the nasal tip to achieve a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing result.

These surgeries can be performed individually or in combination, depending on the specific goals and concerns of the patient. The before and after results of rhinoplasty can also vary depending on your nose type and the chosen procedure.

It's important to consult with our qualified and experienced facial plastic surgeon to determine the most appropriate procedure.  

How Do Nose Abnormalities Impact Nose Shape?

Nose abnormalities can affect the structure and appearance of the nose, resulting in difficulty breathing, an impaired sense of smell and other concerns. People who suffer from nose abnormalities may be prone to snoring, nosebleeds, dry mouth and sinus problems.  

A rhinoplasty procedure reshapes, corrects or reconstructs the nose to achieve more aesthetically pleasing proportions and to enhance physical appearance. Whilst this is most commonly carried out for aesthetic reasons, a nose job can also be performed as a procedure to improve function by correcting breathing issues and helping alleviate the symptoms of sleep apnoea and snoring. In these cases, the septum or turbinate is often operated on because the airway is blocked. This is known as a septoplasty or submucosal resection ('SM Resection'). 

Conclusion

Understanding your nose shape and potential alterations can empower you to make informed decisions. Whether considering surgery or embracing your natural features, different nose shapes are what make us unique.   

Frequently Asked Questions