The non surgical nose job

Many patients come to my office with questions about a non surgical approach to nose reshaping (rhinoplasty). Nose reshaping is a complex operation. It requires both technical expertise and artistic skill to balance the nose in an aesthetically pleasing contour. Traditionally this has been done with cutting and using various tissues to graft or augment the nasal anatomy as needed.

Recently, some new filler materials have become available that have shown some promise in achieving improvements to nasal appearance without cutting. The non surgical rhinoplasty usually involves injecting a filler material, usually a derivative of hyaluronic acid into the nose. Based on the placement of the material nasal shape may be improved.

The benefits of this procedure are numerous. It is usually less costly than a traditional rhinoplasty. It can be frequently performed in an office setting without general anesthetic. The procedure is much quicker and may be less painful than traditional surgery. There is less downtime after the procedure, and patients frequently return to their normal activities right after the procedure. The material is not permanent, so if the result is not what the patient had hoped, it will eventually disappear. An injectable material to help dissolve the product is also available to immediately remove product if needed.

There are limitations to the procedure. Not all patients are good candidates for this technique. If you have significant deformities or nasal obstruction, a traditional surgical approach may be the best option. If the material becomes infected, there is a risk of skin damage and loss over the nose which may be difficult if not impossible to correct. The procedure is new so no one has a ten year experience with the technique, some unexpected problems may arise in the future. Injecting the product into the nose may cause scarring in the nasal tissues making a subsequent surgical rhinoplasty more difficult.

The non surgical nose job is a good procedure for some patients. It is best to discuss this with your nasal surgeon to find out if this is the right procedure for you.