Many of us want to change something about our noses. That’s why rhinoplasty is often one of the most popular plastic surgeries, with more than 200,000 procedures performed annually in the US.
But do you always need major surgery to correct nose issues? No – it is now possible for some minor improvements to the nose without traditional rhinoplasty. This method is called non-surgical rhinoplasty and uses dermal fillers to fill in imperfections in the nose or smooth out little bumps.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty can be a good choice for people who want to make minor tweaks to their noses but aren’t willing or ready to commit to traditional rhinoplasty yet.
Please continue reading to learn more about what non-surgical rhinoplasty can do to help you reach your aesthetic goals.
How Does Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty Work?
Non-surgical rhinoplasty uses popular dermal fillers such as hyaluronic acid to change how the nose looks. Your plastic surgeon will first inject a local anesthetic, then carefully injects the filler under the skin to create more volume or smoother lines.
They also may use Botox during the 15-minute procedure. Not every procedure requires using Botox, but it can help to relax the tiny muscle that pulls down the nose tip and makes the nostrils wider. Botox also may help with ‘bunny lines’ on the nose ridge when smiling.
After a few minutes, the dermal filler settles into the deep skin layers and keeps its shape. This can improve the shape of the nose for a few months and even up to three years. How long the non-surgical rhinoplasty lasts depends on the skin type, fillers used, and your aesthetic goals.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty Target Areas
Your plastic surgeon can use dermal fillers to target the sides, tip, or bridge of the nose. They can inject fillers into any area of the nose to change its shape. This may be the correct procedure for you if you need to:
- Smooth minor nose bumps
- Make the nose tip larger
- Increase nose volume
- Lift the nose tip
According to Dr. Raja Mohan, a Dallas based plastic surgeon with a Rhinoplasty focus. “non-surgical rhinoplasty with fillers also can help ‘if you want to camouflage a small bump in the bridge of your nose to smooth its contours.”
However, Mohan points out that this procedure doesn’t help make the nose smaller or smooth out more significant bumps. Patients with these issues will need to have traditional rhinoplasty, and that involves major surgery and recovery.
After Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
After your procedure, you may notice pain and swelling where your surgeon injected the dermal fillers. But after an hour or two, the injection points should begin to settle. If you experience redness, this also will fade after a few hours.
You can minimize swelling by applying ice immediately after your procedure, and you should see full results after a week.
One of the benefits of this procedure is the downtime, which is minimal. Most patients report they can go back to work the same day and continue their daily routine.
How To Prepare For Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
Depending on the filler ingredient your surgeon chooses, there are various guidelines to prepare for your non-surgical rhinoplasty. However, general recommendations a few days before the procedure include:
- Do not take aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and other blood-thinning drugs a week before the procedure. If you take medicines for blood thinning, be sure to tell your surgeon.
- Note that vitamin K reduces your bruising risk, so it helps to eat plenty of green, leafy vegetables a week or so before your liquid rhinoplasty.
- Drink a lot of water and eat before your procedure, especially something that has starch and protein.
Should You Get A Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty?
Non-surgical rhinoplasty does not involve significant pain or downtime, which is why many people are interested in it. However, whether it is the proper procedure for you depends on your situation and goals.
Injecting fillers in your nose effectively fills in minor imperfections or makes a tiny bump less noticeable. But it won’t help you remove a large hump in the nose or make the nose smaller. And it won’t make the nose straighter; all it can do is camouflage the problem somewhat.
This procedure also cannot fix functional problems, such as a deviated septum. It also is only a temporary fix that lasts a few months in many cases.
However, the procedure doesn’t involve surgery and weeks of downtime, as does traditional rhinoplasty. And many patients say the procedure is worth it.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty isn’t right for everyone, but it can be the perfect procedure for those with minor nose issues that don’t require surgery.
