We like to say here that every rhinoplasty is unique. That of course presumes that every nose is unique as well. There are quite literally, as many types of nose as there are people on this earth. Of course, as humans, our natural urge is to categorize and label. There’s a reason that even back in medieval times, certain bodily features were recognized and turned into references everyone at the time would understand, such as the “Roman Nose” or “Hapsburg Jaw”.
In the interest of celebrating nose diversity, we’ll go over some of the most common kinds of nose you might hear about. We’ll also quickly discuss what all these different nose shapes might mean in the context of rhinoplasty needs as well.
#1 The Fleshy Nose
We’ll start with a very common type of nose – the fleshy nose. This name has been pinned to noses that are large and prominent, and features more fatty portions to them than bony ones. This nose can be seen as a particularly “masculine one”, due to its size. Many women with a fleshy nose opt for a rhinoplasty in order to, quite literally, trim the fat.
#2 Turned-Up Nose
No, this doesn’t refer to the nose of particularly snobby or picky people. Rather, this refers to a nose type that is small in shape, with a small dent in the middle of the bridge and a prominent tip. For many, this is considered a very desirable kind of nose, to the point that it’s been called a “celestial nose!” The delicate tip is what draws many to this type of nose shape, and some might undergo rhinoplasties to better define their tip.
#3 Hawk Nose
You can tell this kind of nose just from the name. Its curved shape with a prominent shape causes many, unkindly, to compare it more to a beak. Hence “The Hawk Nose”. It’s not uncommon for those uncomfortable with the prominent curving bridge of this kind of nose to get a rhinoplasty to smooth out that bridge.
#4 Greek Nose
This nose gets its name from the fact that, in ancient times, it was a very popular choice for sculptures, who considered it an ideal of beauty. What defines the Greek nose is the straight bridge, without any humps or curves. Today, some still seek out this ancient standard of beauty, getting rhinoplasties to straighten their bridge. On the other hand, others might find the nose a little too straight and “flat”, and want to add in a subtle curve. As with most things, it’s a matter of perspective!
#5 Roman Nose
If the Ancient Greeks get a nose type, you better be the Ancient Romans would get one too. Just like with the Greek Nose, this kind of nose got its name from sculpture. The Romans were clearly trying to do things differently than the Greeks. This nose has a sloping and prominent curve to it. Many try to seek out a more “Roman Nose” by adjusting their bridge to get that curve. This nose is especially popular among men, perhaps making them feel like a Roman senator.
#6 Bumpy Nose
“Bumpy Nose” sounds much less regal than “Roman Nose”, doesn’t it? It’s a very common nose type overall, however. It gets its name from a “bumpy” outline, due to both a bump in the bridge and a curve on the tip. Some people prefer to get all these curves under control by smoothing them out with rhinoplasty.
#7 Nixon Nose
Now we come to a nose named after a specific person. Among many other things (we’ll not get into Watergate here), Nixon was known for his iconic nose, still parodied long after his presidency ended. It involves a straight bridge that curves out into a very broad tip. It’s a rare type of nose, and certainly stands out – and not in the way many people want. Rhinoplasty can help avoid any unwanted requests for Nixon impressions.
#8 Rounded Nose
The rounded nose is defined mainly by its tip, which has a distinctly rounded, circular silhouette at the bottom. For many, this kind of nose is considered cutesy. If the tip gets too big however, a tip reduction might help avoid it becoming distracting.
#9 Snub Nose
We tend to refer to anything as “snub nose” when it’s been cut back or shortened down. But it can refer to an actual nose too! It has a thin, pointed and tiny silhouette overall, often with a subtle upward slope at the tip. For many, a snub nose is considered cute, and is the goal of quite a few rhinoplasties.
#10 Nubian Nose
We had the Greek Nose and the Roman Nose, now let’s finish off our ancient civilizations with the Nubian Nose! This nose features a long bridge with a wide base. It got its name due to an association with a variety of African ethnicities – not just those in what was once Nubia. Modern associations with celebrities like Beyonce are giving this nose a boost in popularity.
#11 East Asian Nose
Like the Nubian Nose, the East Asian Nose is associated with a wide region of ethnicities – namely, the various East Asian countries. Obviously, this is a very broad term, but it tends to refer to a nose shape that is slim, flat and with a shorter tip. It’s not uncommon for people from this region to try and get an “ethnic rhinoplasty”, if they feel their tip is too large, or bridge not flat enough, moving closer to this overall nose shape.
#12 Combo Nose
We saved the last spot on this list for a bit of a special reminder about what we said at the start of the blog. While there are certainly many recognizable types of noses, every kind of nose is subtly unique. Many people find that their nose is, in fact, a “combo nose”, merging features of any of the other noses we’ve mentioned here – or more!
Whatever your nose type, you deserve a nose you are happy with. If you’re curious about what rhinoplasty can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re always happy to answer any of your cosmetic questions!