According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure in 2020 was rhinoplasties (nose reshaping). With over 350,000 operations undertaken in a year, a busy plastic surgeon can easily perform more than five or six rhinoplasty procedures in their clinic each day.
As is usually the way, the popularity of a surgical cosmetic procedure is mirrored by an increase in demand for a non-surgical equivalent. If you are dissatisfied with the appearance of your nose but can’t face the idea of anesthesia, facial incisions, and the other elements that make up an invasive cosmetic procedure, you’ll be pleased to hear that you can still get your nose reshaped without plastic surgery.
You can achieve very promising and natural-looking results from what is known as a liquid-nose job.
A liquid nose job, or liquid rhinoplasty, is a non-invasive, non-surgical cosmetic procedure that can produce the same kind of desired results as a full rhinoplasty, but without the dramatic elements and potentially traumatic side effects of the surgical method.
What is a Non-Surgical Nose Job?
A type of aesthetic procedure, non-surgical rhinoplasty alters and reshapes a nose using injectable fillers. Two types of fillers are most commonly used; those based on calcium hydroxyapatite and those based on hyaluronic acids, such as Juvederm or Restylane.
Liquid rhinoplasty is a good option if:
- your nose has a dorsal hump
- your nose has minor asymmetries
- there are minor irregularities postoperatively on your nose from a surgical rhinoplasty
- you want to “test drive” the idea of a surgical nose job
You might also consider the non-aesthetic reasons to opt for non-surgical over surgical if:
- you want instant results
- it’s a lot cheaper than a surgical rhinoplasty
- you can’t afford to take extensive time off work.
To help you decide whether a non-surgical nose job might be the best option for you to get a new nose shape, here are some of the benefits of non-surgical rhinoplasty.
Minimal Recovery Time Is Required
One of the leading benefits of non-surgical rhinoplasty is that you can get on with all your regular activities almost immediately. The entire process can take as little as 30 minutes depending on the complexity of your particular procedure, meaning that you can return to normal life very quickly.
A surgical rhinoplasty procedure will produce the most permanent results of the two options but will inevitably involve a procedure that may take 1.5 to 3 hours, under general anesthetic. It may require as much as two weeks of acute recovery time and you will have to put your daily routine on hold. The swelling and final results of rhinoplasty may take up to a year to see.
There Are No Incisions Or Scarring
A traditional rhinoplasty procedure can sometimes be performed with a closed technique that leaves no external scarring, but this will not always be the case and the likelihood is that your surgeon will need to make a few strategic incisions to get the desired results. In contrast, there are no scalpels involved in a liquid nose job,
The lack of incisions is why there is so little recovery time. The dermal fillers used in a liquid rhinoplasty are applied by an injector with a fine needle and leave no lasting marks. There will be some redness and a few small red dots at the injection site but these will disappear within a few days.
There Are Far Fewer Potential Risks and Side Effects
When performed by an experienced physician, a non-surgical nose job is quick, comfortable, and hassle-free, and the most common side effects are just a small amount of redness and mild swelling that will fade away quickly. But, it isn’t without risks that every patient should be aware of.
The procedure must be carried out by a trained professional who has a completely detailed understanding of nasal anatomy. There is a complicated blood supply system in the nose of tiny veins and arteries that connect ultimately with the eyes. A misplaced injection can result in infection, skin necrosis, and vascular compromise. In the very worst-case scenario, it could lead to blindness.
A traditional rhinoplasty can cause swelling for up to several months and dramatic bruising that can make going out in public quite hard and embarrassing for at least the first couple of weeks. There will be stitches and sutures and you’ll need to wear a splint and tape for the first week. You may also experience difficulty breathing through your nose for the first week. After the first week, you’ll need to wear nasal packing, and protective bandages as well as undergo follow-up appointments with your surgeon.
Potential post-operative risks include
- Change in skin sensation (numbness or pain)
- Difficulty breathing
- Infection
- Poor wound healing or scarring
- Skin discoloration and swelling
- Unsatisfactory nasal appearance and possibility of revisional surgery
Some people are confident that the permanent results of a traditional nose job are worth the downtime and side effects, but those who are worried about things like permanent scarring will probably be better suited to the non-surgical alternative.
You Get Natural Looking Results
With a non-surgical rhinoplasty procedure, you can specify your desired results. You can discuss with your surgeon the quantity of nose filler for each designated injection site, finding ways to best change or complement your nasal shape and enhancing everything that you want to be enhanced.
Your professional injector will repeatedly inject small doses to carefully chosen sites to achieve the most natural-looking results with a balanced look. The solution that is injected is designed to reshape your nose and its contours, but it shouldn’t result in a notable increase in size.
A non-surgical nose job does not offer as many options as a traditional rhinoplasty, such as reducing the actual size of things like the nasal bridge, nasal tip, or dorsal hump, but it is very effective at addressing and rectifying asymmetry or depressions with additional volume in strategic spots.
The Results Can Be Reversed
One major benefit of a liquid rhinoplasty is that it has a simple reversible procedure should you be unhappy with your new nose look.
In the reversal procedure, an enzyme called hyaluronidase is injected into the treated areas, which safely absorbs the fillers and returns your nose to its original shape and look.
If you don’t want the enzyme treatment, your body will eventually start to absorb the fillers anyway, but in a much slower fashion. It can take up to a year and a half for the natural degradation of fillers, as the nature of the non-surgical nose job is only semi-permanent anyway.
Of course, any kind of cosmetic surgery requires a degree of commitment, especially on the face as it is so visible to you and others. If you find yourself losing your bravery after you have undergone some nose filler work, then at least you will have the peace of mind that you can always reverse the results. With a traditional rhinoplasty, reversing simply isn’t an option once elements like bone and cartilage have been disturbed and removed.
Choosing a Clinic
If you decide that a non-surgical nose job is the right treatment for you, you can be assured of professional service at the Z Center for Cosmetic Health. Our board-certified surgeon, Dr. Michael Zadeh, has extensive experience in performing the non-surgical nose job. Book a consultation appointment or browse the website for answers to any questions that you might have, along with lots of advice and help with plenty of other skin care issues.
There are so many clinics in Los Angeles, so having a recommendation for a well-reputed board-certified clinic can make the difference between a successful experience and a potentially problematic one. Make sure that you are in the first category with Z Center for Cosmetic Health!