What Is Non-surgical Rhinoplasty?
First things first, what is this treatment? As you’ll no doubt have gathered, it’s a non-surgical treatment that can be an alternative to a traditional, surgical nose job. It requires no general anaesthetic and no scalpel.
Quite often called the ‘liquid nose job’, this procedure requires a skilled and highly trained practitioner to carefully place dermal fillers into your nose. There is no need to make incisions or remove your tissue with a knife as there would be in surgery.
The practitioner can smooth out bumps, add volume where required, and adjust the contours of your nose using only dermal fillers to reshape and balance nose imperfections in this minimally invasive treatment. It provides immediate results, quickly, without the same risks and downtime as traditional rhinoplasty.
Is Non-surgical Rhinoplasty Safe?
Yes, non-surgical rhinoplasty is generally considered a safe treatment when done by a trained and experienced practitioner. At our clinic, this treatment is only ever performed by a qualified medical practitioner who has years of experience, advanced skillsets, and a full and advanced understanding of your anatomy and physiology.
Our non-surgical rhinoplasty specialist is a practising neurosurgeon, which in layman’s terms means he’s a spinal and brain surgeon; with that, he brings precision, safety, and a deep understanding and respect for the intricacies of the human body.
As with all medical-aesthetic treatments, there are potential risks. Much like other dermal filler treatments, you are using a needle during this treatment which means that there is some risk of bruising and temporary swelling at the treatment sites. In extremely rare cases, more serious complications can arise, such as vascular compromise. There are things that can be done to rectify and treat these rare complications immediately which is why, and I cannot stress this enough, the treatment should be performed by a medical practitioner who has the equipment and training to deal with any complications quickly and efficiently should they arise, no matter how rare. These possible complications should be taken seriously but know that they are extremely rare.
Is Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty Permanent?
One thing that is often reassuring to our patients is that the results of the ‘liquid nose job’ are not permanent. As with all dermal fillers, the body will gradually break them down and safely remove them. This means that should you decide that, actually, you quite miss that little bump on your nose, your natural features will slowly return.
This is often ideal for patients who aren’t sure if they want a surgical rhinoplasty because it can temporarily give them an idea of how their nose may look after surgical intervention (depending on what you’d like to achieve). Read about 'how long does non-surgical rhinoplasty last' in our bog.
You can repeat the non-surgical rhinoplasty procedure should you wish to maintain the results.
Can Non-surgical Rhinoplasty Make Your Nose Smaller?
The ideal candidate for non-surgical rhinoplasty usually has specific characteristics to make them suitable for this treatment. A consultation is a really important part of your journey so that you can have confirmation that you’re a good candidate and understand what can be achieved with your unique features. However, in general, a good candidate would have:
- A desire for minor changes: a liquid nose job is not for those who want major transformations that would require the removal of tissues such as making your nose smaller. Non-surgical rhinoplasty can make your nose look more refined, balanced, and smoother should you have bumps, dips, some asymmetry and minor nasal tip drooping. Have a look at our non-surgical rhinoplasty before and after photos to get a better understanding of what can be achieved.
- Realistic expectations: It’s essential that you understand what can be achieved with non-surgical rhinoplasty. This is a treatment for those who want relatively minor changes to their nose and it’s not a substitute for the traditional, surgical nose job where major restructuring can be achieved.
- No major structural concerns: the liquid nose job is not able to rectify breathing issues or significant structural issues; that would require surgery.
- A willingness to maintain: an ideal candidate should be willing to accept that non-surgical rhinoplasty is not permanent and, should they wish to maintain their results, additional treatment will be needed to do so. If a permanent change is wanted, surgery may be more appropriate for them.
- Good overall health: Good general health is ideal, without medical conditions that could affect healing or complicate the procedure. Again, this is where a consultation is important.
Is Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty Painful?
Typically non-surgical rhinoplasty is not painful and discomfort is usually minimal. During the treatment, our practitioners use local anaesthetic both topically on the skin and within the dermal fillers used so most patients report that they may feel a small scratch from the needle as it goes in and a feeling of pressure during the treatment. In our experience, non-surgical rhinoplasty is well tolerated.
Additionally, it’s not a particularly long procedure; usually 20 to 30 minutes depending on the level of correction required.
Post-treatment sensations tend to be tenderness, with temporary swelling and possibly some bruising which can be uncomfortable. This can be well managed with cold compresses gently laid on the area and over-the-counter pain relief, if you’re medically suitable and only if you feel you need it. This should subside over a few days; often our patients will plan their treatment over a weekend when they have some time off, but this is a personal preference.
We understand that tolerance varies from person to person and although, in our experience, the treatment is tolerated well, if you have concerns about discomfort please discuss this with your practitioner during your consultation.
Is Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty Worth It?
There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to non-surgical rhinoplasty. Whether it’s ‘worth it’ will depend on you as an individual, what you want to achieve, and what your expectations are. Some considerations to help decide if it’s worth it for you are:
Some benefits of non-surgical rhinoplasty
- Non-surgical: no lengthy recovery, scarring, or incisions, nor the risks associated with surgery and general anaesthetic.
- Quick results: the treatment is really quite quick and you can see immediate results.
- Minimal downtime: Most people will be able to resume their usual activities immediately. You should factor that there may be some discomfort, swelling, and bruising in the days after the treatment but this is relatively minor in comparison to the recovery required for surgery.
- Reversible: This is not a permanent treatment so if you decide you don’t wish to maintain it, you don’t have to. Additionally, if you want your results to be adjusted, this is usually possible. If you decide that the results really aren’t for you and you miss your usual nose, the fillers can be dissolved.
Some considerations of non-surgical rhinoplasty
- Not suitable for major changes: If you want a smaller nose or to address a breathing issue, this isn’t going to be suitable for you.
- Temporary: Depending on your unique metabolism and lifestyle, results generally last 12 to 24 months, at which time you’d require further filler being placed to maintain your results.
- Possible side effects: All surgical and non-surgical procedures come with their own set of possible side effects and possible complications. Some will be common and others very rare. These should be discussed in full during your consultation.
Ultimately, it’s for you to decide if non-surgical rhinoplasty is for you as a unique individual. Some of the points raised today may make that a little clearer for you but it’s really important to have a consultation with a qualified, trained medical practitioner to discuss what you’d like to achieve, discuss your candidacy, and go over any questions you have. Following your consultation you should be better placed to make an informed decision.
Who Offers Non-surgical Rhinoplasty Near Me?
It’s likely many people who offer this treatment near you so you’ll probably want to do your research to find who you consider to be the best option for your consultation and possible ‘liquid nose job’. In our experience, there are a few top-line things to look out for when filtering out clinics or practitioners… firstly, we’d strongly encourage you to consider a qualified medical practitioner to help lower your risks during treatment. Then you’ll want to know how much experience they have- the more the better. What kind of product do they use? Is it reputable and bought from a legitimate source such as a pharmaceutical company? Ask if they’re equipped to deal with complications in the unlikely event that they arise. And finally, check they’re insured. An easy way to do all the above is to go through a professional register such as Save Face, which does all of this vetting for you. Simply head to their website.
We are a Save Face and CQC registered clinic based in St. Albans Hertfordshire which is easily accessible from the M25 and is only 40 minutes by train from Kings Cross, London. Should you wish to have a non-surgical nose reshaping consultation with one of our medical practitioners who specialise in this treatment, please use the contact us form today and we’ll be in touch with you shortly to discuss your consultation.