Male vs. Female Rhinoplasty – What’s The Difference?
According to the 2014 annual plastic surgery statistics report conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nose reshaping surgery (more commonly called rhinoplasty) was the second most popular plastic surgery procedure in 2014. A total of 217,124 rhinoplasties were performed in the United States alone; 54,680 of those procedures were performed on men while 162,444 procedures where on women.
Some of rhinoplasty’s popularity is due to its role in fixing nasal breathing (as in functional rhinoplasty) while simultaneously enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the nose.
A successful rhinoplasty procedure is performed to improve the appearance of the whole face, while also yielding a predictable result for the patient. For these reasons, the procedure is performed slightly differently for men (“male rhinoplasty”) than it is for women (“female rhinoplasty”).
Differences in Anatomy
In general the noses of men tend to be more prominent, with a higher bridge and wider mid-nose width. Men also tend to have thicker skin on the nose that after surgery “drapes” differently compared to women, a factor which can alter the overall process of reshaping.
The female nose is often more defined and delicate compared to male noses. Many women prefer a “supratip break”, a subtle indentation along the bridge just above the tip. This feature is typically not desirable in men since it makes the tip more feminine. A woman’s nose may also be slightly shorter than a man’s.
Finally, depending on ethnicity there can be big differences in nasal width, dorsal hump positioning, and columellar angle.
Differences in Aesthetics
The second big difference between male and female rhinoplasty is the desired end result, there are vastly different views of the “ideal nose” for each gender.
Most males strive for a more prominent, powerful nose that has distinctive features. For males, the tip of the nose may be less rotated, with the angle between the upper lip and nose falling between 90 and 95 degrees.
Women, on the other hand, tend to prefer a more petite nose; often with a more upwards rotated tip. Some women, in particular those of shorter stature, can tolerate another 5 to10 degrees of tip rotation and a small supratip break. However, today’s ideal female nose is straighter and longer than in the past, so many women prefer the more natural, longer look with a slight dorsal hump.
There is a fine line between what is pretty and what is overdone. The rhinoplasty patient should be prepared to be very clear about his/her aesthetic goals during the rhinoplasty consultation. Photo imaging or computer morphing can help to clarify the preferred goals for surgeon and patient alike.
Dr. Minas Constantinides is a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon at Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in Austin, Texas. He is on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and is a Senior Advisor of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS).
Hello, I have read many good things about Dr. Constantinides. My stepdaughter is in need of rhinoplasty which requires someone with expert skills. Do you have insurance coverage in Austin yet?
Hi Donald, thanks for reading our blog. We do accept a variety of insurance plans, although acceptance for rhinoplasty is case-specific. Please contact us at 512.615.2730 for more information and to setup a consultation.