Retroussé Nose: Rhinoplasty Options for an Upturned Nose

A retroussé nose — more commonly known as an upturned or celestial nose — is one of the most recognisable nose shapes, characterised by a tip that tilts upwards. For some it’s a charming, youthful feature; for others, an excessively upturned nose feels out of balance with the rest of the face and becomes a source of self-consciousness. If you feel your nose points upwards too much, this guide explains exactly what a retroussé nose is, what causes it, how it affects facial balance, and the full range of surgical and non-surgical options to refine it. At Centre for Surgery, upturned nose rhinoplasty is performed by GMC-registered surgeons at our CQC-regulated Baker Street clinic in London, rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Correcting a retroussé nose is not straightforward. It requires a highly skilled surgeon who understands the intricate details of nasal structure and how the nose should integrate with the rest of the face — which is why choosing the right clinic for your rhinoplasty is critical.

What Is a Retroussé Nose?

“Retroussé” comes from the French retrousser, meaning “to turn up” — and that’s exactly what defines this nose shape. A retroussé nose has a nasal tip that rotates upwards, giving the nose a shorter appearance and making the nostrils more visible from the front and side. The angle between the upper lip and the base of the nose (the nasolabial angle) is more open than average.

In anatomical terms, the degree of “upturn” is measured by this nasolabial angle. A typical range is around 90–95 degrees in men and 95–110 degrees in women; a retroussé nose sits at the higher, more rotated end — and when it becomes very pronounced, the nose can look over-rotated or “piggish,” with the nostrils overly exposed. A gently upturned nose is often considered attractive and feminine; it’s only when the rotation is excessive, or feels disproportionate to the chin and forehead, that people seek correction.

It’s worth saying clearly: a retroussé nose is a completely normal, common, and often desirable nose shape. Many people are perfectly happy with a gently upturned nose, and a subtle upward tip is frequently seen as youthful. This guide is for those who feel their upturn is too pronounced — not a suggestion that an upturned nose is something that needs “fixing.”

Retroussé, Upturned, Celestial: Same Nose, Different Names

You may come across several different names for this shape, which can be confusing. They all describe the same upward-tilting nose:

• Retroussé nose — the French-derived term, increasingly used online, emphasising the “turned up” quality.
• Upturned nose — the plain-English description of the same shape.
• Celestial nose — a more poetic term, used because the upward tilt can give a whimsical, “looking to the heavens” appearance.

Whichever term you use, the anatomy — and the surgical approach to refining it — is the same. A retroussé nose is also sometimes confused with a button or snub nose, which shares the upturned tip but is also rounder and smaller overall. It’s the opposite of a Roman or aquiline nose, which has a downward-sloping tip and a prominent bridge.

What Causes a Retroussé Nose?

An upturned nasal tip usually comes down to one or more of the following:

• Genetics. By far the most common cause — the shape is inherited, and often runs in families along with a shorter nasal length and less developed tip cartilage.
• Cartilage structure. The lower lateral cartilages that support the tip may be shaped or positioned in a way that rotates the tip upwards. The strength and length of these cartilages largely determine how much the tip projects and rotates.
• Ethnic variation. Some upturned tips are a natural feature of particular ethnic nose types, which is an important consideration in planning ethnic rhinoplasty that preserves character.
• Previous surgery. An over-rotated tip can occasionally result from a previous rhinoplasty where too much was removed or the tip was over-elevated — a common reason for revision rhinoplasty.
• Injury. Rarely, trauma can alter the tip’s support and rotation.
• Ageing. Less commonly, changes in cartilage support over time can subtly alter tip position, though ageing more often causes the tip to droop rather than lift.

Beyond Aesthetics: The Functional Side

An upturned nose isn’t only a cosmetic matter. In some people the rotation of the tip narrows the nasal passage, making airflow harder and potentially contributing to breathing difficulties or snoring. In these cases, rhinoplasty can serve both purposes at once — refining the appearance while improving the airway. Where breathing is affected by the septum, the procedure may be combined with septal work as a septorhinoplasty.

How an Upturned Nose Affects Facial Balance

The nose sits at the centre of the face, so its shape has an outsized effect on overall facial harmony. With a pronounced retroussé nose, a few things tend to stand out. The nose can look shorter than ideal in proportion to the length of the face, throwing off the classic “rule of thirds” that divides the face into balanced horizontal sections. The nostrils become more visible from the front, which can draw attention. And in profile, an over-rotated tip can make the nose appear to recede, sometimes making the chin or forehead look more prominent by comparison.

This is why good rhinoplasty is never just about the nose in isolation. An experienced surgeon assesses the nose in the context of your whole face — the relationship between the nasal tip, the bridge, the upper lip, the chin, and the forehead. Occasionally, what looks like a nose that’s “too upturned” is partly an illusion created by a receding chin, in which case chin augmentation (genioplasty) alongside or instead of rhinoplasty may produce better balance. Your surgeon will assess all of this at consultation rather than treating the tip in isolation.

How to Correct a Retroussé Nose: Your Options

The right approach depends on how pronounced the upturn is and how much change you want. Broadly, there are two routes: surgical rhinoplasty for a permanent, significant correction, and non-surgical options for a subtle, temporary refinement.

What to Expect at Your Consultation

Any good rhinoplasty journey begins with a thorough face-to-face consultation. For a retroussé nose, this is especially important because de-rotating a tip is technically demanding and the plan must be tailored precisely to your anatomy. At your consultation at Centre for Surgery, your surgeon will:

• Assess your nasal anatomy — examining the tip cartilage, skin thickness, nasal length, and how the tip is supported, since these determine what’s achievable.
• Discuss your goals honestly — understanding exactly what bothers you and setting realistic expectations about the degree of change possible.
• Consider your whole face — evaluating the tip in relation to your chin, lips, and forehead to plan a balanced result.
• Review your medical history — including any breathing issues, previous nasal surgery or injury, and general health.
• Explain the approach — whether open or closed rhinoplasty, whether grafts are needed, and what recovery will involve.

All surgical procedures at Centre for Surgery include a recommended two-week cooling-off period, so you’ll have time to reflect before committing — never any pressure to decide on the day.

Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty: The Surgical Procedure

Rhinoplasty is the definitive way to correct a pronounced retroussé nose. It involves carefully modifying the cartilage and, where needed, the bone to de-rotate the tip, lengthen the appearance of the nose, and bring it into balance with the rest of the face. Correcting an over-rotated tip often means adding support and length rather than removing tissue, so cartilage grafts (typically taken from the septum) are frequently used to reposition and stabilise the tip in a more downward, natural position. This is a key point that separates upturned-nose correction from many other rhinoplasties: it’s usually an augmentation and restructuring of the tip, not a reduction.

During your one-to-one consultation at Centre for Surgery, your surgeon reviews your medical history, assesses your nasal anatomy in detail, and discusses your desired outcome. On the day of surgery, the procedure is usually performed under TIVA. The surgeon makes precise incisions — commonly using the open approach, with a small incision across the columella (the strip of tissue between the nostrils) — to access and reshape the tip cartilage, then closes with fine sutures. A splint supports the new shape while it heals. The operation typically takes between one and a half and three hours depending on complexity.

Recovery After Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is generally a day-case procedure, so you return home the same day. You’ll have a splint for about a week, and some swelling and bruising around the eyes is normal in the early days. To minimise swelling, keep your head elevated and avoid blowing your nose for the first few weeks. Most patients are back to desk-based work within one to two weeks once the splint is off and visible bruising has settled, and can resume vigorous exercise at around six weeks.

Patience is essential with tip work in particular. The tip is the last area to fully settle, and because correcting a retroussé nose focuses on the tip, the final refined result emerges slowly as deep swelling subsides — it can take up to a year, and occasionally longer, for the tip to soften into its final shape. Early on, the tip may even look slightly over-corrected or swollen; this is expected and settles with time. Following your surgeon’s aftercare instructions closely gives the best chance of a smooth recovery and an optimal result.

Non-Surgical Options for a Retroussé Nose

Surgery isn’t the only route. For those not ready for an operation, or whose upturn is mild, non-surgical options can help — though it’s important to understand they cannot de-rotate an upturned tip the way surgery can. They work by adding volume elsewhere to visually rebalance the nose.

Dermal Fillers (Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty)

Also known as a non-surgical rhinoplasty or “liquid nose job,” dermal filler can be strategically placed — for example building up the bridge — to create the illusion of a straighter, more balanced nose and reduce the appearance of upward rotation. Results are immediate with minimal downtime, but temporary, typically lasting 9–12 months before needing repeating. Filler adds volume; it can’t reduce or reposition tissue, so it suits subtle refinement only.

A Note on Nose Thread Lifts

Nose thread lifts, which use dissolvable PDO threads to lift the nasal tip, are widely marketed as a non-surgical option. We do not offer them at Centre for Surgery — and for an upturned nose they would be the wrong direction of travel in any case. A thread lift rotates the tip upwards; correcting a retroussé nose requires bringing an over-rotated tip down. No thread technique can achieve that.

An honest caveat on non-surgical routes: for a genuinely over-rotated tip, these options have real limits. They can soften the appearance of an upturn by rebalancing the bridge, but they cannot bring a rotated tip down. If your upturn is pronounced and you want a lasting change, surgical rhinoplasty is the only option that can truly de-rotate the tip.

Risks and Considerations

While rhinoplasty is a commonly performed and generally safe procedure, like any surgery it carries risks, and it’s important to understand these fully. Common surgical risks include infection, bleeding, adverse reactions to anaesthesia, scarring, persistent swelling or bruising, and altered skin sensation. Specific to rhinoplasty, there’s also the possibility of asymmetry, difficulty breathing, or dissatisfaction with the aesthetic result — and because tip work is delicate, a small proportion of patients ultimately choose a minor revision to fine-tune the outcome. Correcting an upturned nose is technically demanding, which is precisely why surgeon experience matters so much. Your surgeon will discuss all relevant risks with you in detail at consultation and take every measure to minimise them.

Is Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty Right for Me?

Good candidates are in general good health, have fully finished growing (usually 18+), don’t smoke or are willing to stop, and — most importantly — have realistic expectations. Correcting a retroussé nose is one of the more technically demanding areas of rhinoplasty, because de-rotating and supporting the tip requires precise structural work. The goal is a natural, balanced result that suits your face, not a dramatic transformation. Your surgeon will give you an honest assessment of what’s achievable for your anatomy at consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Upturned Nose Rhinoplasty in London at Centre for Surgery

At Centre for Surgery, we recognise the emotional weight an upturned nose can carry. Our GMC-registered rhinoplasty surgeons specialise in refining retroussé and upturned noses with natural-looking, balanced results, performing your procedure at our CQC-regulated Baker Street clinic in London, rated “Good” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). From your first consultation to your final follow-up, you’re supported at every step, with your surgeon’s direct number for the first 24 hours after surgery.

Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Email: contact@centreforsurgery.com | Address: 95-97 Baker Street, London W1U 6RN

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