How to Make Your Nose Smaller: A Complete Guide

Written by an Expert Aesthetic Content Writer Lisa.
Reviewed by Expert Medical Director Dr. Raj Thethi
Published on: September 2, 2025
Facial Concerns

How to make your nose smaller

Table of Contents

‘Why is my nose big?’ ‘How to make my nose smaller?’ 

Do you have the same questions? This blog is for you! 

The truth is, every nose is unique,  and most of the time, completely normal. But if you’d like to change how your nose looks, there are different options, from quick makeup tricks to semi-permanent options and surgery. 

Continue reading to know what really works to make your nose smaller, what doesn’t, and how to choose the best option for you.

This article is medically reviewed by our experts!

Why Some Noses Look Bigger or Smaller

Not all noses are the same, and that’s perfectly normal. Some noses look bigger or smaller because of a few main reasons:

1. Family Genes

A big nose may be in your genes. If your parents or grandparents had a certain type of nose, you might have inherited it. This is why some noses are small and slim, while others are wider or longer.

2. Your Roots and Heritage

Different backgrounds give different nose shapes. Some have higher bridges, some wider nostrils, and some shorter tips. This variety is completely natural and adds to your unique look.

3. Accidents/Trauma

If your nose has been knocked or broken, it can change its shape. Even small injuries can make a nose look a bit bigger, crooked, or Asymmetrical.

4. How Your Face Is Built

Your nose is a part of your whole face. Sometimes a nose can look bigger or smaller depending on your eyes, cheeks, or jawline. A well-balanced face can make any nose look just right.

Your nose size is mostly natural. Understanding why it looks a certain way helps you decide the best way to make it appear smaller, if you want to.

Can You Actually Make Your Nose Slimmer?

Do you wonder, ‘Is it possible that my nose got smaller?’ 

Well, the answer is ‘Yes!’ You can make your nose look smaller, but it depends on how permanent you want the change to be.

If you’re looking for quick, temporary results, options such as makeup or non-surgical fillers can help. Contouring with a few simple tricks or getting a small amount of filler can make your nose appear slimmer without surgery, but the effect won’t last forever.

If you want a permanent change, surgery, known as rhinoplasty, is the only way to truly reduce the size of your nose.

How Can You Slim Your Nose Naturally?

Wondering, ‘How can I slim my nose naturally?’  Here are a few natural methods, but let’s see if they work or not.

1. Nose Shaping Clips or Devices

Some gadgets say they can change your nose shape by pressing on it. They might make it look a bit different for a short time, but there’s no proof they work for long. Be careful if you try them, and don’t push your nose in ways that hurt.

2. Topical Creams or Products

Some creams promise to shrink or reshape your nose. However, there’s little scientific proof that they actually work. They may moisturise or smooth skin, but they won’t reduce the size of your nose.

3. Makeup Tricks

The most effective natural method is makeup. By contouring the sides, highlighting the bridge, and blending carefully, you can make your nose look slimmer, shorter, or more balanced. This method is safe, temporary, and easy to do at home.

Takeaway:  You can’t really make your nose smaller forever, but there are easy tricks to make it look smaller. Makeup works the best and gives quick results. Nose clips and creams don’t really help much, and no one knows if they truly work.

How To Reduce Your Nose Size With Makeup?

For a quick and easy way to make your nose appear slimmer or shorter, without touching it at all, makeup can help you. Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. Contour The Sides

Take a matte contour powder or cream that is one or two shades darker than your skin. Lightly brush it along the sides of your nose. This creates a shadow that makes your nose look narrower.

2. Highlight The Bridge

Use a light highlighter or a pale concealer and sweep a thin line down the centre of your nose. This draws the eye to the middle and makes the sides look slimmer.

3. Adjust for Your Nose Shape

  • If your nose is long, apply a little contour on the tip to make it look shorter.
  • If your nose is wide, focus contouring on the sides and the area near the nostrils.

4. Blend and Blend

Use a soft brush or sponge to blend the contour and highlight. The smoother it looks, the more natural and subtle the nose will appear.

Remember: Less contouring is good to go, always contour in natural light, and practice it first.

How To Make Your Nose Look Smaller without Surgery

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

If you want a quick, less invasive way to refine your nose, dermal fillers (also called liquid rhinoplasty) can help. Non-surgical Rhinoplasty doesn’t shrink your nose but changes how it looks by smoothing bumps, lifting the tip, or making the bridge appear straighter.

How it Works

A trained doctor can put a tiny bit of filler into certain parts of your nose. This can smooth out bumps and shadows, making your nose look straighter, smaller, and more even.

What to Expect

The procedure usually takes 15–30 minutes. Some redness, swelling, or minor bruising can happen, but usually fades within a few days.

Results are visible immediately but last around 6–12 months, depending on the filler type and your body.

Benefits

  • It can create an illusion of a smaller nose.
  • Quick, non-surgical, and mostly pain-free.
  • No downtime, most people return to normal activities right away.
  • Can refine small bumps, tip shape, or asymmetry for a more balanced look.

Risks

  • Semi-permanent solution.
  • Small risk of swelling, bruising, or uneven results.

How To Make Your Nose Smaller with Surgery

Rhinoplasty

If you want a permanent change, surgery is the only way to truly reduce the size of your nose. This is called rhinoplasty, or more specifically, reduction rhinoplasty.

How it Works

During surgery, a qualified surgeon carefully removes or reshapes small amounts of bone and cartilage. They may also refine the tip, narrow the nostrils, or smooth bumps. These changes can make your nose look shorter, slimmer, and more balanced with the rest of your face.

What to Expect

The operation usually takes a few hours and is done under anaesthesia. Swelling and bruising are normal after surgery and can take a few weeks to settle.

Final results may take several months to fully show as your nose heals.

Benefits

  • Permanent reduction of size.
  • Can fix bumps, asymmetry, or a droopy tip.
  • Improves facial balance, making your nose fit your features better.

Risks

  • As with any surgery, there’s a small chance of bleeding, infection, or breathing issues.

Choosing the Right Option for You To Decrease Nose Size

The best way to make your nose appear smaller depends on your goals, budget, and comfort level.

  • For quick fixes: Makeup tricks and hairstyle adjustments can give an instant illusion of a slimmer nose without any downtime.
  • For temporary changes: Nose fillers (liquid rhinoplasty) work well if you want subtle reshaping without surgery.
  • For permanent results: Rhinoplasty is the most effective option if you’re looking to truly reduce the size or alter the shape of your nose long term.

Key: Always consult with a qualified practitioner before going for medical or surgical treatments.

Final Remarks

Your nose is the focal point of your profile; its size and shape are often determined by family genes and natural features. If you’d like to change how it looks, you have choices: makeup for a quick fix, fillers for temporary reshaping, or rhinoplasty for permanent results.

If you want to try the non-surgical and quicker fix, consult non-surgical rhinoplasty at Yorkshire Skin Centre in Leeds

No matter which option you consider, remember this: your nose does not define your beauty. And if you do want to make changes, always speak to a qualified professional so you can make the safest and best decision for yourself.

FAQs

1. How to slim your nose in 1 week?

You can’t permanently slim your nose in one week. But you can use makeup contouring, clever hairstyles, or even glasses to make it appear slimmer right away.

2. How can I decrease nose size?

The only way to actually reduce nose size is through surgery (rhinoplasty). Non-surgical fillers and makeup only change how it looks, not its size.

3. Is it possible that my nose got smaller?

Your bone and cartilage don’t shrink on their own. However, weight changes, swelling reduction after an injury, or even clever contouring can make your nose look smaller.

4. Can pinching the nose make it smaller?

No. Pinching or pressing your nose won’t change its size or shape. Your nose is made of bone and cartilage, and squeezing it won’t make it permanently smaller.

5. How to make your nose smaller without surgery?

You can make your nose appear smaller without surgery by using makeup techniques like contouring and highlighting, or opting for non-surgical treatments like nose fillers to reshape and balance the nose’s appearance. These methods offer temporary results and require minimal downtime.

6. How to reduce nose size naturally at home?

You can’t reduce your nose size naturally at home since it’s made of bone and cartilage. However, makeup techniques like contouring can create the illusion of a slimmer nose, while exercises and cold compresses may temporarily reduce puffiness.

7. How to make your nose smaller overnight?

It’s not possible to permanently make your nose smaller overnight, as the nose’s shape is determined by bone and cartilage. However, makeup contouring and highlighting can create the illusion of a smaller nose for a temporary effect.

8. Toothpaste can make your nose slimmer?

No, toothpaste cannot make your nose smaller. This is a common myth that has no scientific basis. Neither toothpaste nor garlic can alter the cartilage structure of your nose through topical application.

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About Dr. Raj Thethi - Medical Reviewer

Dr. Raj Thethi

Yorkshire Skin Centre in Leeds is a CQC-registered medical clinic. It is led by Dr Raj Thethi who completed his core surgical training in hospitals around West Yorkshire before branching into aesthetics. Dr Raj Thethi is a Northern Territory Regional Expert for an international dermal filler company called Teoxane. He also sits on their National UK Faculty.

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