Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty with Fillers
Nose reshaping was the third most popular surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States in 2017 with a total of 213,780 procedures, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS). However, this figure represents a decrease of at least 5,000 practices relative to 2016 (1). One potential factor contributing to that decrease could be a trendy nose procedure that doesn’t require surgery at all. A non-surgical rhinoplasty, also known as the “liquid nose job” or non-surgical nose job is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting fillers into the nose to alter its shape, the nostrils or bridge height. A non-surgical rhinoplasty is performed with no incisions, no general anesthesia, and no downtime. This special non-invasive procedure requires only injections of proven dermal fillers such as Restylane® to sculpt and shape the nose during one short office visit. Even though it is minimally invasive, this procedure should only be performed by a skilled and specially trained plastic surgeon who can use careful precision and advanced techniques to give you a beautiful, natural-looking result.
A non-surgical rhinoplasty is a relatively new procedure, utilizing the benefits of injectable fillers for an in-office “nose job”. This procedure focuses on the small changes that can be achieved with dermal fillers. For instance, it can smooth out humps and bumps on the bridge of the nose, straighten a crooked appearance, make a flat or wide nose look more defined, add fullness to a narrow nose, add definition to the nose tip, and even correct issues from a prior rhinoplasty, particularly in the case when an additional surgery is not recommended. Results can last between 6 months and 2 years depending on the anatomy of the patient’s nose, the issue being addressed, and the type of filler used. Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most common fillers used in this procedure and sometimes they are used in combination with a neurotoxin (such as Botox, Xeomin or Dysport). One of the benefits of non-surgical rhinoplasty is that if patients are not satisfied with the outcome, it can be reversed by an injection of an enzyme which can dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers (2). This enzyme used to dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers is called “hyaluronidase”. It’s worth mentioning that if the fillers used were not hyaluronic acid-based, this enzyme will not break them down.
A non-surgical nose job typically takes about a half an hour to complete. This procedure often requires no anesthesia or sedation but will be specific to the patient. Prior to the injections, ice or numbing cream may be used to ensure a well-tolerated procedure. After 10-15 minutes, the skin will start to feel numb and then it is injected with the filler and/or neurotoxin, depending on what the plastic surgeon decides. Most patients report little to no discomfort during this procedure. In some cases, minor injection-related reactions such as swelling, redness, pain, itching, discoloration, and tenderness can occur following a non-surgical rhinoplasty. These problems are very manageable and typically subside within just a few days. Any redness or discoloration can be covered with makeup if needed. These risks are the same risks patients may encounter with tear trough filler, filler in the forehead or nasolabial folds, and filler in the lips (3). Working with an experienced nose plastic surgeon and injectable provider minimizes patients’ risk for complications or undesirable results. Most patients do not require any downtime after a non-surgical rhinoplasty. You should be able to return to work and regular activities immediately following the procedure, and results are often visible as the treatment’s complete.
References:
(1) “Plastic Surgery Statistics Report 2018”. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. www.plasticsurgery.org
(2) Vitenas, Paul. “How a non-surgical rhinoplasty can provide amazing results”. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/how-a-nonsurgical-rhinoplasty-can-provide-amazing-results
(3) “What are the risks of dermal fillers”. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/safety
