Rhinoplasty is a popular operation to reshape and redefine the nose, creating a more balanced facial profile. It’s not considered an anti-aging procedure, like a face lift or neck lift would be.
But a new study finds that people often look younger after rhinoplasty. Researchers at the University of Toronto found that patients looked 1.5 years younger after a nose job.
How the Study Worked
During the study, 50 people guessed the ages of 53 rhinoplasty patients in before-and-after photos. The patients ranged in age from 15 to 61, and about three-quarters were women.
Patients who had a hump reduced or removed saw the greatest anti-aging effect. Among these patients, the reduction in perceived age was 1.6 years younger after surgery, compared to 1.1 years for patients who did not have a hump prior to surgery. Those with a droopy tip also saw more of the age reduction benefit.
Whether a patient was older or younger at the time of surgery was less of a factor, the researchers reported.
“Older patients tended to enjoy a greater degree of rejuvenation,” the authors write. But the differences between age reduction in older vs. younger patients was not statistically significant.
Why Undergo Rhinoplasty?
Although rhinoplasty could provide anti-aging benefits, this is not a common reason to choose it. Nose surgery is usually performed to improve the proportions of the nose or to improve nasal breathing.
A variety of nasal characteristics can be changed. Surgery can reduce the size of the nose, remove humps, improve the nasal angle and more. Looking younger may be an additional bonus.
“I wouldn’t say that in terms of the findings of this study, it adds a major reason to go forward with the procedure,” said Dr. Ali Sepehr to Reuters Health, “It’s just a nice added benefit when somebody’s already going to get the procedure for another purpose.”
