Nose jobs decline as we pursue new standards of beauty

According to a New York Times article dated 1999, young Jewish girls flocked to plastic surgeons to rid themselves of their “ethnic noses.” Dr. H. George Brennan is quoted as saying, “You had your bat mitzvah and you got your nose done.”

But today’s world is more forgiving of our individual differences and actually favors diversity. Flaws today are seen as marks of beauty across the social media platforms of Instagram and aptly-named Facebook. A prominent nose or one with highly individualized features actually adds to sex appeal today, instead of detracting from it as in years past.

Nose Jobs Are On the Decline

People around the world have stopped flocking to their plastic surgeons to have their noses look more like Hollywood starlets. Since 2000, the number of rhinoplasties in America alone has dropped by 43 percent.

Americans and other people around the globe seek different cosmetic procedures than they did in the 1980s and 1990s. No longer are cute little noses necessarily en vogue. Of course, 225,000 people still undergo rhinoplasty in the U.S. each year. But compared to 400,000 only ten years ago, that drop is significant.

Cosmetic surgeons see increased interest in procedures related to an image of sexuality or good health, such as tummy tucks and breast implants. So people still want better bodies. Standards of beauty have just shifted downward several inches or so.

Today’s most common plastic surgery patient is a Caucasian woman in the middle class. These women tend to believe cosmetic surgeries will help them climb occupational or social ladders, even for landing or keeping a husband. This indicates these women seek security in their future through plastic surgery.

Changing Standards of Beauty

As diversity becomes more accepted in society, the need for rhinoplasties declines. No longer do people with inherited size or curve in their noses see having these genetic differences as a mark of shame. They no longer feel the need to appear more “white.” That is a great thing, appreciation of our differences.

This makes the decline in nose jobs something of merit. Sure, we all expect to have rock-hard, rippled abs and plumped facial features into our 70s now. But loving our noses is progress in the worlds of self-confidence and perception of beauty.

Pew Research in 2017 predicted that by the year 2055 all Americans will be a minority race or ethnicity. Caucasians will not be in the majority. Nor will other races.

This decline in rhinoplasties is likely permanent, unless more caucasians decide they want more defined, ethnic-looking noses as an upgrade. With Chinese people dominating the world economy, their faces may hold keys to the future of facial plastic surgery. But one can always hope we hold onto our individuality and continue on the trend of embracing our own human identities and characteristics, no longer seeing them as flaws.

This shift to respecting our individuality and playing up those attributes has already started hitting its stride. Today’s television and print advertisements use models known for their unique features to sell cosmetics, clothing and even services like auto insurance. One such commercial for CoverGirl features a model with a skin condition called vitiligo.

Fewer Nose Jobs Do Not Signal Decline of Plastic Surgery

Even with the decline in rhinoplasties, cosmetic surgeons prove busier than ever before. Their offices remain filled with people seeking shorter-term changes, such as dermal fillers and Botox. So you should feel no sorrow for cosmetic surgeons of the world. They have a bright future as they continue to help each of us produce the best version of ourselves.