For those who dislike their nose, rhinoplasty (AKA a nose job) is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures people choose to alter the shape or function of their nose.
Nose jobs are permanent, and like with any surgery, they come with some risks. The good news is that there is a non-surgical option out there for those who may not be ready to go under the knife or make such a big commitment.
Liquid rhinoplasty, also called non-surgical nose reshaping or non-surgical rhinoplasty, enhances your appearance without undergoing traditional rhinoplasty.
If you’re debating non-surgical rhinoplasty, here are three important things you should know.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty uses fillers
Non-surgical rhinoplasty uses dermal fillers to cosmetically reshape or change an aspect of the nose. Because there is no anesthesia or surgery, there’s very minimal recovery and downtime. You can have the procedure done and return to work on the same day.
“Hyaluronic acid is the most common injectable filler substance used, which is also what is most commonly used for filler injections in other parts of the face,” said David Chen, MD, a facial plastic surgeon at Banner - University Medicine. “These injections can be performed in various parts of the nose to achieve a variety of effects, including improving the definition of the tip of the nose, adding volume to parts of the nose, or camouflaging small bumps (dorsal hump), asymmetries and irregularities.”
Offers you subtle changes
Non-surgical rhinoplasty is a good option if you have minor deformities and asymmetries in your nose.
“Because fillers can only add volume to the nose, the goal of the injection is to augment, camouflage, and alter the definition of certain parts of the nose,” Dr. Chen said. “However, it cannot make the nose smaller or remove volume.”
Ideal candidates for non-surgical rhinoplasty are those who have a:
- nasal tip deviation or want to lift their nasal tip
- dent on the tip of the nose
- dent on the bridge of the nose
- moderate nasal hump or bridge
- a short nose that does not match the rest of their facial features
Those who are not good candidates for non-surgical rhinoplasty are those who have a:
- broken nose
- breathing issues
- severe septum deviation
- severe hump or bridge
- large, wide nose
Changes are temporary, not permanent
The best factor with non-surgical rhinoplasty is that the changes can be reversed when using dermal fillers.
“Notably, filler injections are not permanent and last for about a year, more or less, depending on the specific formulation used,” Dr. Chen said. “So, the nose inevitably returns to its original appearance once the filler substance is broken down and absorbed by the body.”
This can be beneficial if you want to “test run” or “preview” your nose without committing to plastic surgery. It’s also easier on your wallet as it is not as expensive.
“Any changes, whether desired or unsatisfactory, will go away with time,” Dr. Chen said. “This temporary solution can have a lasting effect on patients by helping them decide whether a more permanent surgery is necessary or not.”
There are still some risks to know about
You may experience a little pain, redness and bruising right after your injections. These side effects are common and typically resolve within a few days. There are rare but serious complications that can occur, so it’s important that you have your procedure performed by a trained health care professional.
“One of the rare but serious risks of any filler injection on or around the nose is infiltration of the filler substance into a blood vessel during injection,” Dr. Chen said. “This can cause tissue death, scarring, and even blindness. While extremely rare, it is an important risk that must be discussed with the health care provider.”
Takeaway
A non-surgical nose job is the less-invasive, more affordable version of rhinoplasty. Although it doesn’t make permanent or dramatic changes in your appearance, it can improve the overall look of your nose.
If you are hoping for lasting changes to your nose and these changes cannot be accomplished with injections, surgical rhinoplasty is still the gold standard.
However, both procedures can help boost confidence and help those who are simply unhappy with the appearance of their nose.
Considering surgical or non-surgical rhinoplasty?
Schedule a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon near you.
