Nose fillers are best described as a non-surgical form of rhinoplasty. The term “rhinoplasty,” of course, refers to a cosmetic procedure where plastic surgery is performed on a patient’s nose in order to alter its size and shape. People who are unhappy with the appearance of their nose may elect to get rhinoplasty surgery, especially if their nose is too big.

In some cases, rhinoplasty can be classified as a medical procedure if the natural condition of the patient’s nose is causing them to have breathing problems or other nose-related health issues. But if someone is merely unhappy with the appearance of their nose and wants to reduce its size, then it is classified as cosmetic surgery. Health insurance companies will only cover the surgery if it is needed for health purposes. They won’t offer coverage if it is for cosmetic purposes.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty is different because it does not involve any invasive or surgical techniques to alter the nose of the patient. Instead, the practitioner injects fillers into certain “depressed” locations of the nose in order to puff them out more. For example, let’s say there are specific areas of a patient’s nose that are narrower than other areas of their nose. They may elect to have nose filler injections to even out those narrower areas in order to make their nose look more symmetrical.

Unfortunately, nose filler injections cannot decrease the size of a nose because no bone or cartilage is removed during the procedure. That is the one downside to nose fillers compared to traditional rhinoplasty surgery. Nose fillers are strictly classified as a cosmetic procedure. There is never any situation where you would need them for health purposes. So, if you’re looking to reduce your nose size, then nose fillers are not right for you. The regular rhinoplasty procedure is what you’ll need.

What is the source of a nose filler solution?

A more attractive name for non-surgical rhinoplasty is “liquid rhinoplasty” because it is a liquid solution injected into various areas of the nose. You’ve probably heard of filler brand names like Juvéderm and Restylane before. These injectable fillers are commonly used as anti-aging treatments for people who want to reduce the appearance of wrinkles on their face. But they are also used as nose fillers for changing the shape and size of a patient’s nose.

Hyaluronic acid is the most common component of a nose filler injection and is used in the Juvéderm and Restylane treatments. It has the ability to temporarily alter the shape of the nose for a certain period of time. On average, the new appearance of your nose should last for between 6 to 9 months. At this point, the hyaluronic acid is metabolized by the body through a totally natural process. That causes the appearance of the nose to return to its original state.

If a patient wants to maintain their nose’s new appearance for longer than 6 to 9 months, then more nose filler injections will be required. Some critics say it is risky to keep getting nose filler injections because the filler solution may block the flow of blood through a vital artery of the face. However, if you use a certified cosmetic surgeon with experience at performing nose filler injections, then you should be fine.

Besides, if any type of vascular damage were to occur because of a nose filler injection, the signs of the damage would present themselves within 1 minute after the injection. The doctor would notice the signs immediately and then take proper measures to fix the problem. But, in most cases, this is not an issue for patients. They come out of the injection procedure just fine and without any downtime from their normal daily activities.

An alternative filler to the popular hyaluronic acid is calcium hydroxyapatite. The Radiesse nose filler uses calcium hydroxyapatite, which is a calcium-based filler which is longer lasting and stronger than hyaluronic acid. You could get between 10 and 14 months of use out of this filler injection before you need another one. Some cosmetic surgeons may recommend calcium hydroxyapatite if they feel your nose is better suited for it.

The less popular nose filler injections include liquid silicone, polymethylmethacrylate, and polyacrylamide gel. You won’t find too many practitioners in the United States who recommend these filler options. They come with more risks and complications too.

Conclusion

Listen to the advice of the doctor. Prior to getting nose filler injections, you’ll go through a series of exams to ensure you’re healthy enough for the procedure. If you pass the exam, then a date will be scheduled for the nose filler injection procedure to take place.

During the procedure, you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the areas that will be injected. The procedure won’t hurt that much, so a local anesthetic should not be required. It depends on how deep the practitioner wants to inject the filler solution.

Overall, it is a safe procedure that can offer you some amazing results. But you must stay committed to getting the injections if you want to keep your nose looking good.