Kendall Jenner says it was Accutane, not surgery—but is that even possible?

Model and internet personality Kendall Jenner kicked off the new year addressing long-standing speculation about cosmetic work on her face. Appearing on Owen Thiele’s In Your Dreams podcast on 9 January, she pushed back against what she described as rampant online conjecture. “There’s a whole world on the internet that thinks I’ve had full facial reconstruction,” she said.

Despite years of hypotheses suggesting otherwise, the 30-year-old Kardashian-Jenner clan member maintained that her nose is entirely natural. “I’ve never had any plastic surgery on my face,” she stated. “I’ve never had any work done.”

Jenner added that her features changed naturally with age, saying she “grew into” her nose. She also attributed its apparent refinement to her past use of Accutane, claiming the oral acne medication caused her nose to “shrink”.

To separate myth from medical fact, Her World consulted Dr Rachel Ho, medical director of La Clinic, to weigh in on whether Accutane can truly alter the appearance of the nose.

First, the facts

Accutane is the former brand name for isotretinoin, a powerful oral medication prescribed for cystic and treatment-resistant acne. It works by shrinking the sebaceous (oil) glands and significantly reducing sebum production. However, isotretinoin does not alter the structural framework of the nose—namely the nasal bones and cartilage—which ultimately define its shape and contours.

That said, sebaceous glands are particularly abundant on the nose. Isotretinoin may reduce their size, and has also been shown to decrease the thickness of nasal skin and subcutaneous tissue—especially in patients with thick nasal skin or severe acne. This can lead to a temporary improvement in nasal definition.

“In certain medical conditions such as rhinophyma, where excessive sebaceous gland growth and thickened nasal skin can become disfiguring, isotretinoin may form part of a broader treatment plan to reduce nasal bulk,” explains Dr Ho. “But for the vast majority of patients, any change in the appearance of the nose is subtle and not structural.”

Dr Ho is also quick to caution against misinformation circulating on social media. She notes that she has seen content creators on TikTok—some of whom appear to have undergone rhinoplasty—claim that their nose shape was changed by Accutane. “Content like this can mislead impressionable viewers who may consider using isotretinoin for nose enhancement,” she says. “Accutane is very unlikely to significantly alter the size or shape of the nose.”

Additionally, she points out that in some patients, sebaceous glands can hypertrophy again after stopping the medication, meaning any perceived changes are not permanent.

Can facial maturation or weight changes help you ‘grow into’ your nose?

According to Dr Ho, natural facial maturation can subtly alter the appearance of the nose over time. As facial support structures weaken with age—through skin laxity, fat loss, cartilage changes and muscle weakening—the nasal tip may droop slightly and the bridge may appear longer.

However, weight changes do not alter the structure of the nose itself. “The nose contains very little fat compared to the rest of the face,” she explains. “While weight loss or ageing can reduce cheek volume and make the nose appear more prominent by contrast, the nose itself remains unchanged.”

Thinking of Accutane for aesthetic reasons?

If you’re tempted to take Accutane purely to alter the appearance of your nose, Dr Ho offers a firm reminder: isotretinoin is a prescription medication with significant risks. Female patients, in particular, face a temporary risk of foetal teratogenicity for up to one month after completing the course.

Beyond acne treatment, isotretinoin is also used off-label for certain inflammatory and hyperkeratotic skin conditions—but it is not a cosmetic shortcut, nor a substitute for surgical or non-surgical aesthetic procedures.