Your nose is considered fully shaped by the time you reach your late teens. While the cartilage continues to subtly change throughout life, the major structural development is complete by then.
Nose Development Timeline
- Teenage Years: This is the period of most significant growth and shaping of the nose. Both bone and cartilage continue to develop and change.
- Girls: For most girls, their noses are mature by age 15 or 16.
- Boys: For most boys, nasal maturity is reached around age 18.
- Beyond the Teens: While the nose may appear to change in size and shape due to factors like skin elasticity and gravity, the underlying structure remains largely consistent after the teenage years.
Several studies support this: one study shows that 98% of adolescent girls have a mature nose by 15.8 years, and 98% of adolescent boys by 16.9 years. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/409573 Other sources suggest that the nose is mostly fully grown by the teenage years, but subtle changes continue. https://www.drsajjadian.com/how-does-your-nose-shape-change-throughout-the-years/
Factors Affecting Nose Shape
It's important to note that while the underlying bone and cartilage structure is largely developed by the late teens, several factors can influence the appearance of the nose throughout life:
- Aging: Skin loses elasticity and gravity causes changes in the shape and appearance of the nose over time. https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-your-nose-grows-with-age-2223746
- Genetics: Inherent genetic factors play a considerable role in the final shape of the nose.
- Injury: Trauma or injury can alter the shape of the nose.
