Why Does Your Nose Widen When You Smile? Explaining Self-Care Methods and Treatment Options

Here are the two main reasons why your nostrils flare when you laugh. Many people struggle with this: “I want to laugh freely, but I’m self-conscious about my flared nostrils,” “I envy people whose nostrils don’t flare when they laugh,” or “I want to know how to fix this.” For those troubled by flared nostrils when laughing, this guide covers everything from simple self-care methods you can start easily to cosmetic surgery options. We also summarize the benefits of treatment and recovery time, so please use this as a reference.

Two main reasons why your nose flares when you laugh

Many people are troubled by their nostrils flaring and becoming larger when they laugh. In fact, everyone’s nose widens when they smile. First, let’s take a closer look at the two main causes.

【Cause 1】How facial muscles work when smiling

When you smile, your nostrils widen due to muscle movement. When forming a smile, the alar levator muscle, located near the cheeks, pulls the nostrils upward.The levator labii superioris alaeque nasi is one of the facial muscles, responsible for lifting the upper lip and the alae of the nose. Another possible reason is the presence of well-developed nasalis muscles. If the nasalis muscles are strong, the nostrils may widen more easily.

If you’re concerned that your nostrils become prominent when you smile, it may be due to well-developed facial muscles or a habitual way of forming your expression.

【Cause 2】Structural Factors

Sometimes, the original shape of the nose can make it appear wider when smiling. If the tip is rounded and the nostrils are fleshy, smiling can accentuate a bulbous nose, potentially causing self-consciousness.

One cause of flared nostrils is the lowering of cartilage position due to bone atrophy and muscle deterioration associated with aging. Additionally, habits such as teeth grinding, clenching, or resting the chin on the hand can distort the upper jawbone, leading to enlarged nostrils.

If you’re concerned about your nostrils flaring when you smile, it’s usually due to a combination of facial muscle movement and underlying structural factors. Another possibility is that facial puffiness makes your nostrils appear wider. In this case, self-care methods can provide some improvement.

Self-Care Methods to Minimize the Appearance of Your Nose Widening When You Smile

For those troubled by their nose spreading sideways when they smile, we introduce massage and training methods.

Massage to Reduce Swelling Around the Nose

To reduce puffiness around the nose, incorporating massage can be beneficial. One technique involves gently circling the pads of your fingers around the sides of your nostrils. It’s recommended to do this while relaxing in the bath or similar setting. Another method is lymphatic massage, performed in this order: sides of the nose, bridge of the nose, eyebrows, outer face, and neck. However, with any method, massaging too vigorously can irritate the skin. Be sure to massage gently to avoid causing irritation.

Facial Muscle Training

In cases where the levator alae nasi muscle is lax and the nose appears wide, facial muscle exercises can sometimes be effective. Focus your attention on the sides of your nose and repeatedly practice movements like puffing them out and pulling them in. Another method involves gently stretching the skin under your nose while using your fingers to lightly push up the tip of your nose.

Training often doesn’t show immediate results. The key is consistency. Continuing the exercises may help refine the shape of your nose. However, if the cause of your wide nose is due to developed facial muscles, be aware that training could potentially have the opposite effect.

Natural-looking makeup techniques

You can also use makeup to cover your nostrils so they aren’t noticeable. Here’s a summary of the makeup techniques.

1. Pick up shading powder with a slim brush and apply shadow in a V-shape along the tip of the nose. 2
. Apply shading to the flared
sides of the nostrils. 3. Apply highlighter from the bridge to the middle and tip of the nose.

By incorporating this makeup technique, your eyes will naturally be drawn to the highlighted bridge and tip of your nose.

The extent to which self-care can improve

If you’re troubled by your nostrils flaring when you smile, achieving a state where it’s completely unnoticeable through self-care alone is likely difficult. While massage and exercises can be effective in some cases, it’s challenging to suppress the function of facial muscles or alter the structure itself. Furthermore, while makeup can certainly make the nostrils less noticeable, it doesn’t provide a fundamental solution. As a prerequisite, achieving results through training or similar methods requires long-term, consistent effort.For those troubled by their nose widening when they smile and seeking solid results quickly, considering cosmetic surgery is one option.

Two Aesthetic Treatments to Eliminate the Complex of Widening Nose Wings When Smiling

Some people who are troubled by their nose spreading sideways when they smile may want to know how to fix it or overcome their insecurity. Here, we explain two treatments for those whose nostrils spread sideways when they smile: Botox injections for the nostrils and alar reduction surgery.

【Convenience is the Appeal】Nostril Botox Injections

Nostril Botox injections are an injectable treatment that prevents the nostrils from flaring when smiling by suppressing muscle movement. They are suitable for cases where the alar retractor muscles are well-developed. Let’s take a look at the benefits and downtime of nostril Botox injections.

Benefits

Botox injections for the nostrils can reduce their size through the injection process. The treatment takes about 10 minutes, making it convenient and easy to receive. Additionally, since no incisions are made, there is virtually no downtime, and it’s less likely to be noticed by others. Makeup can be applied on the day of treatment, allowing any needle marks to be concealed.

Downtime

As mentioned earlier, Botox injections for the nostrils are a treatment characterized by minimal downtime. While symptoms such as discomfort or bruising may occur, they should subside within a few days.

LIVIN CLINIC’s alar botulinum toxin injections focus on achieving moderate results through meticulous technique. If you wish to address concerns about your alar area, please feel free to consult with us.

▷Learn more here

【Semi-Permanent Effect】Nostril Reduction (Alar Reduction)

Nasal alar reduction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that removes skin from the nostrils to make them appear smaller. This treatment, also known as alar reduction, typically takes about one hour to complete. The internal approach, which manipulates the inner part of the nostrils, effectively reduces the size of the nostril openings and narrows their width. In contrast, the external approach, which removes skin from the outer part of the nostrils, is expected to reduce their volume. We will explain the characteristics of nasal alar reduction in detail.

Benefits

The benefits of alar reduction include narrowing the width of the nose, making it appear smaller overall. It also improves the proportions with the eye and mouth areas, enhancing the overall facial balance—a significant advantage.

Another key feature is that the effects last semi-permanently. Since this treatment physically reduces the size by removing skin, your nose will be less likely to spread sideways when you smile. If you want to resolve your complex in a single procedure, you might consider alar reduction.

Downtime

After the procedure, you may experience symptoms such as swelling, pain, redness, or bruising, but these should subside within about 1 to 2 weeks. Sutures will be removed one week after the procedure. Makeup may be applied starting the day after suture removal.

LIVIN CLINIC’s alar reduction prioritizes a natural finish while delivering noticeable results. Through consultation, we propose a nose shape that complements your facial features. On the day of surgery, we ensure ample time is set aside to discuss the design.

▷Nostril Reduction (Nasal Wing Reduction)

Must-See for People Whose Noses Widen When They Laugh Frequently Asked Questions

Finally, I’ll address the concerns of those troubled by their nostrils flaring when they laugh.

If your nose flares when you smile, cosmetic procedures are one option!

Trying to solve the concern of your nose flaring when you smile solely through self-care often takes time or doesn’t work well. If you want to overcome this complex, it’s a good idea to consider aesthetic medicine as well and explore a wide range of solutions.

You can book a consultation at LIVIN CLINIC via our website or LINE. If you’re concerned about a wide nose, please feel free to consult with us.

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