More than just a bump on your face, the nose is a pretty amazing part of the body. Without your nose, you couldn’t smell, your breathing would be affected, and things wouldn’t taste quite right. Since it’s so complicated, it should be no surprise that one of the most complicated types of facial plastic surgery is rhinoplasty. If you’ve ever wondered about your nose, why it’s important or why people are so concerned about them, getting to know the nose can shed a bit of light on the matter.
There are Different Types
No two noses are really alike, you’ve probably realized. Some people have small, dainty noses while others have large and in charge noses. As it turns out, there are actually many different, specific types of noses, and the type of nose a person has can vary based on ethnicity. Caucasian noses, for example, have been grouped in 14 different types, and there are several types of Hispanic nose and African-American nose. Within the different types of noses, there are also many different variations on shape, size and overall structure.
The wide variety of nasal types is one of the things that makes rhinoplasty so challenging and is one of the reasons why it’s important to choose an experienced surgeon. A surgeon who specializes in rhinoplasty will have a good understanding of the differences in nasal structure, shape and size and how to perform the procedure to optimize the results based on the type of nose.
Noses Tend to be Noticed
There wouldn’t be the saying “as plain as the nose on your face” if noses weren’t so noticeable. Although few people would admit it, the nose is often the first thing they see when they look at a person and it’s a feature that goes a long way in determining what makes a person attractive.
It’s true that there’s no such thing as a perfect nose. But, the way yours work with the rest of your facial features or not does play a bit part when it comes to how you feel about your appearance.
Your Nose Can Change with Age
The truth is that your nose is finished growing by your mid to late teens. That’s why surgeons often recommend postponing rhinoplasty until around age 16, as doing the surgery before the nose is fully grown can mean that the effects of the surgery are undone by future growth.
While the nose doesn’t grow beyond a certain point, changes in the face and skin as you get older can lead to changes in the nose. Over the years, the effects of gravity can make the nose look longer and can lead to a drooping tip. As the skin ages, the loss of collagen can make the nose more droopy, too. For that reason, some people find that they look a few years younger after they’ve had rhinoplasty, especially if the surgery adjusted the tip of the nose.
Your Nose Wears Many Hats
Your nose has many roles to play. Although you breathe through your nose and mouth, it’s the nose that handles most of the breathing responsibility. Air enters your nostrils and moves to the nasal cavity, where it is filtered and warmed up before it travels on down to the lungs. If you’ve ever felt discomfort when breathing outdoors on a cold day, imagine how much more discomfort you’d feel if your nose wasn’t there to warm up the air before it reached your lungs.
Gross as it sounds, your nose also produces mucous that removes debris and dust from the air and adds moisture to it. While you’re likely to notice the mucous when you’re sick and dealing with a running nose, on an average day, your body produces about a quart of the stuff, most of which you swallow without even noticing.
Along with helping you breathe, your nose plays a big role in two of the senses. The human nose has millions of olfactory sensors, which help you detect thousands of different scents. Although smell seems like a minor thing, it does have a great impact on your experience in life. Without the ability to smell, your ability to taste is greatly diminished, for one thing. Smell is also thought to play a role in your memory. Smelling something connected to an emotional event in your past, such as your mom’s perfume or holiday baking, can trigger a flood of emotions.
Your nose should be an amazing feature on your face. If you’re not happy about the way yours looks or have with the way it functions, a facial plastic surgeon who specializes in nasal surgery, such as Dr. Edward Buckingham, can help. Dr. Buckingham is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who performs several rhinoplasty procedures each week. Schedule a consultation with him to learn how rhinoplasty can improve your nose. Call 512-401-2500 for an appointment today.