The belief that the nose continues to grow throughout a person’s life is widespread, often fueled by noticing how facial features change with age. However, a biological examination of the nose reveals that true structural growth halts in early adulthood, aligning with the skeletal maturity of the rest of the body. The perception of an ever-growing nose is instead a result of several distinct, age-related changes in the underlying tissue.
The Timeline of True Nasal Growth
The nose is composed of two primary structures: the upper third consists of bone, and the lower two-thirds, which includes the tip and nostrils, is made of cartilage. True growth, which involves the expansion of these structural components through cell division and bone formation, concludes when the facial skeleton reaches its full size. This typically occurs in the late teenage years or early twenties, coinciding with the end of overall physical maturity.
For boys, the nose generally reaches its adult size and shape around age 16 or 17, while for girls, this process is often complete slightly earlier, around age 14 or 15. Once this stage is reached, the bony bridge of the nose ceases to grow entirely, as the growth plates have fused. The cartilage, which is more flexible than bone, also stops expanding via the active proliferation of new cells.
Factors Driving Age-Related Appearance Changes
Despite the cessation of true growth, the nose can appear longer, wider, or more prominent in later life due to changes in its soft tissue envelope and foundational support. One of the most significant factors is the constant pull of gravity on the cartilaginous tip of the nose, a phenomenon known as nasal ptosis. The weakening of the connective tissues and ligaments that hold the cartilage in place allows the tip to droop downward over time, creating the illusion of an elongated nose.
The skin covering the nose also undergoes dramatic changes with age, contributing to the altered appearance. The production of key structural proteins, collagen and elastin, decreases over time, leading to a loss of skin elasticity and support. As the skin becomes thinner and less firm, it provides less structural counter-support to the underlying cartilage, further exacerbating the sagging effect.
The underlying skeletal foundation also subtly changes, impacting the nose’s appearance. Facial bones, including the maxilla which supports the nose from below, can undergo reabsorption and lose density over decades. This loss of bony support alters the scaffolding for the nasal structure, contributing to the overall shift in shape and making an existing dorsal hump appear more noticeable as the tip falls.
The sebaceous glands, particularly those located at the nasal tip, can enlarge and become more active with age, resulting in a thicker, heavier, and more bulbous appearance to the end of the nose.
Why the Myth Persists: Noses vs. Ears
The persistent belief in continuous nasal growth often stems from the similar, visible changes observed in the ears over a lifetime. Both the ears and the lower two-thirds of the nose are composed of cartilage, a flexible tissue that lacks the hard, mineralized structure of bone. The perceived enlargement in both features is fundamentally driven by the same mechanisms of soft tissue aging and mechanical stress.
In the ears, the effects of gravity and the breakdown of collagen are particularly noticeable, causing the earlobes to elongate. Scientific studies have quantified this effect, with the circumference of the ear increasing by an average of about 0.51 millimeters per year.
This increase is not the result of new cartilage cells being generated, but rather the stretching and deterioration of the existing connective tissue. The same forces—tissue relaxation, loss of elasticity, and gravity—are at play in the nose, causing the tip to lengthen and widen. The softening and weakening of the cartilage and skin simply lead to a less defined, more prominent profile over time.