On TikTok, some promise a “nose job” without a scalpel, just with acne treatment. The rumor: drugs like Roaccutane would make it possible to refine the nose almost as much as a rhinoplasty, in a few months of capsules. The trigger? A sentence dropped by Kendall Jenner which immediately set the networks on fire.
For the 6 million French people affected by acne, the idea of a “two in one” treatment may seem tempting. And yet, when we look closely at what isotretinoin actually does in the body, the picture is much less dramatic.
Roaccutane, TikTok and the obsession with a thinner nose
It all started with before-and-after videos grouped under the hashtag “Nose with Accutane”. In a podcast broadcast on January 9, Kendall Jenner declared with a laugh: , says the model, quoted by Santé-sur-le-net. With its 284 million subscribers on Instagram, the formula was enough to restart the rumor machine.
And then the comments followed: screenshots, zooms on his profile, assumptions of “hidden rhinoplasty” or on the contrary “free rhinoplasty” thanks to the treatment. Behind the buzz, a very simple question arises: does what certain patients experience on isotretinoin correspond to a real change in the shape of the nose?
What Isotretinoin Really Changes…and What It Can’t Do
Isotretinoin is a vitamin A derivative prescribed for severe acne. It has a well-identified role: regulating sebum production and reducing skin inflammation. Nathalie Dumarcet, head of the dermatology division of the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM), summarizes: , she explains to France Info, cited by Santé-sur-le-net.
In other words, the nose may appear less “thick” because the skin is less oily and less inflammatory. But here again, the specialist tempers: She insists above all on the fact that. The medication acts on the skin, not the deep architecture of the nose.
Risks, medical supervision and fantasy of “express rhinoplasty”
If the health authorities react, it is not because of a story of failed selfies. The ANSM reminds that isotretinoin can cause and. The danger is even more marked during pregnancy:, warns Nathalie Dumarcet. In France, prescription is therefore accompanied by strict rules, including compulsory contraception for patients of childbearing age.
Because ultimately, this is where the problem lies: taking such a treatment as self-medication, or diverting it just to hope to refine one’s nose, exposes one to serious risks for an essentially illusory promise. Doctors point out that this medication is reserved for certain forms of severe acne, for a limited period and under supervision. For a complex related to the nose, the path remains the discussion with a health professional, who can direct if necessary towards other aesthetic solutions or simply help to better understand what the treatment can – and cannot – change.
Can Roaccutane permanently refine the nose?
No. Isotretinoin can dry and thin the skin, sometimes giving the illusion of a thinner nose, but authorities say there is “no evidence of action on bone or cartilage.” The shape of the nose is therefore not modified.
Why does my nose look thinner during my acne treatment?
According to the ANSM, the drug reduces sebum production, dries the skin and makes it thinner. This change in texture can make the nose appear less massive, but this effect remains visual and described as temporary by dermatologists.
Can we take isotretinoin just to correct a complex on the nose?
Doctors are clear: this treatment should not be used to reshape the nose. This is a powerful medication, reserved for certain forms of severe acne, with risks for the liver, mental health and a high risk of malformations in the event of pregnancy.
