How the ‘Barbie’ and ‘ski-slope’ nose trend is sweeping social media

Abbi Dib was 13 when she first thought about getting a nose job.

Tiny, slanted noses dominated pop culture, and she dreamed of changing her own features to match.

As soon as she turned 18, Abbi was put on a public waiting list for a rhinoplasty.

But while the surgery smoothed the bridge of her nose and corrected her snoring, it wasn’t the dramatic transformation the Melbourne journalist had hoped for.

“I remember being upset that it wasn’t slanted,” she said.

“People would say, ‘Oh, you had a nose job?’ That’s really weird, doesn’t it seem.”

Abbi, who comes from a Middle Eastern background, still has moments when she considers having a second operation to make her nose smaller.

“[But] it would look so ridiculous because I have such big eyes that if I had a very small nose I would look like an alien,” she said.

“And also, it would be so far from my culture.

“But if I’m having a bad week and I’m feeling bad, then the thought crosses my mind.”

Social media, driving trend of celebrity culture

Colloquially known as the ‘ski-piste’ or ‘Barbie’ nose, this thin, upturned rhinoplasty is ‘everywhere’, according to Professor Gemma Sharp, the founding director of the Eating Disorders Research Consortium.

Social media is a major driver, she said, with more people posting before-and-after videos that normalize the process.

“You have influencers who will talk about having the procedure and how much it has improved their lives, which is very, very powerful,” he said.

Prof Sharp said selfie culture is also a factor, as phone cameras make noses appear larger than they actually are.

Meanwhile, photo filters change the structure and shape of people’s faces even when they don’t ask for it, further fueling resentment.

Hong Kong University philosopher and ethical plastic surgery expert Dr Yves St James Aquino said celebrity culture is also a “really powerful” influence.

“There is a narrow view that if we achieve the physical ideal, we might be able to achieve all the other social ideals, including wealth, fame and popularity,” he said.

Australian cosmetic surgeon Dr Namrata Anavekar said she has seen almost a 20% increase in patients seeking this look in the past year.

But the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons board member said any trend-related surgeries like these were worrying.

“Unlike a fashion trend where you can throw away your skinny jeans and buy a pair of boots, surgery is permanent,” she said.

Barbie’s nose fits ‘very few faces’

In addition to cosmetic changes, rhinoplasty can be performed for health reasons, such as correcting breathing problems or repairing damage from birth defects.

While traditional rhinoplasty aims to improve the nose to blend in, the Barbie nose look generally suits “very few faces”, warns Professor Sharp.

“People get that Barbie doll look and say, ‘My nose looks lost on my face.’ So they end up looking for more facial surgery just to try to make it look balanced again,” she said.

The “Barbie nose” procedure removes much of the structural integrity of the nose, increasing the risks of breathing difficulties and even nasal collapse.

“Major revisional procedures” may be needed to reconstruct the nose, including the use of rib cartilage.

The recovery process can also be long and arduous.

“You feel like a bus hit you in the face,” Abby said.

For two weeks, the then 18-year-old struggled to breathe through the splints in her nostrils and had to use a bottle to clear mucus and blood from her nose.

It took about two years for the swelling to go down completely.

Dr. Namrata says it’s important for people to seek advice from a qualified cosmetic plastic surgeon before any procedures — especially trend-driven ones.

“You want to work with a surgeon who will not just say yes to a procedure, but wants to ensure your safety in conjunction with your goals.”

Prof Sharp also advised people to see a mental health professional before a nose job, to explore their motivations.

“Is there an underlying mental health condition that would be better treated through psychological therapy rather than surgery?” she said.

Pressure to erase the “ethnic” nose

Helen Bird of the Butterfly Foundation says such trends allow industries to prey on people’s insecurities.

“That pressure can build and build until people start to believe that changing their appearance will bring them value and happiness,” she said.

The trend also shows how Western ideals of beauty continue to dominate the world, Ms Bird said.

For Abbi, this doesn’t seem like anything new.

“I think the pressure to [not have] a ‘national’ nose has always been there,” he said.

“There are literally people who rub their baby’s nose when it’s really tiny [to] get rid of the blow’.

Professor Sharp said she had seen “a lot of regret” from some patients who changed their so-called “ethnic” features to match.

“That’s something people really need to consider before getting a rhinoplasty.”

Dr. Aquino emphasized that cosmetic surgery is not something to be ashamed of, adding that race is not defined by a single facial feature.

“People should have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies. However, I think people should do it in a safe way,” he said.

“People do it to become others”

Seven years after her nose job, Abbi says she has no regrets – however, she urges people to do their research.

“Some things are irreversible,” he said.

“Give yourself a few years to think about it and try not to make the decision when you’re 18 or 19.”

She also encouraged rhinoplasty seekers to ensure it suits their face – rather than suiting a trend.

“People want to act like plastic surgery is to enhance your physical features,” she said.