Gone are the days of needing to undergo a traditional “surgical nose job” or rhinoplasty to slightly alter the shape of your nose.
If you’re bothered by small asymmetry in your nose, would prefer a straighter bridge – or a bit of an angle at the tip, then you can now choose nose fillers.
Non-surgical rhinoplasty, liquid rhinoplasty, liquid nose job, and non-surgical nose job are all terms that you may have come across and they all mean the same thing as nose fillers. Dermal fillers can be injected into the nose in order to add volume, symmetry, and slightly shape the nose with very satisfactory results (1).
Nose fillers can be injected into almost anybody, they’re safe and the results are instantaneous – but there are some side effects that you do have to consider so make sure you don’t skip that section below.
What is a non-surgical nose job?
During a non-surgical nose job, dermal fillers are injected into the skin over the bridge of the nose and around the tip.
Through this method it’s possible to add volume to certain areas of the bridge and to remove the appearance of “dorsal humps”, bumps and to give the nose a much straighter and balanced look.
Additionally, with nose fillers the tip of the nose can also be reshaped. In a non-surgical nose job, the tip of the nose can be lifted slightly to give a “tinkerbell nose” appearance.
Dermal fillers, such as Volbella and Restylane, contain hyaluronic acid; which when injected beneath the skin can add volume to it and attracts water causing the skin to become more hydrated (2).
What can nose fillers fix?
Though getting a non-surgical nose job is a great option for reshaping the nose with great detail, it unfortunately can only fix “small” bumps and asymmetries in the nose. If you have a more severe problem then your doctor may refer you for a surgical rhinoplasty.
So what exactly can nose fillers do?
1. Make a nose look straighter
The most common use of nose fillers is that they make noses appear straighter by adding volume on either side of a nose bump.
Dorsal humps are bumps on the bridge of the nose, and by adding fillers on either side the bridge of the nose can appear extremely straight. If you’re complaining of a mild to a moderate bump on your nose then you may be a good candidate for nose fillers.
2. Change the shape of a nose tip
If you’re unhappy with the tip of your nose, or feel like it’s too small or that it bends slightly downward, then nose fillers are a great option for you.
3. Making a small nose larger
Though not so common, if you’re complaining of a smaller nose, and would like it larger or more prominent in certain places – then nose fillers are a good choice as they add volume with great detail to specific areas of the nose.
4. General shaping of the nose
Because nose fillers are directly injected, your doctor has a lot of freedom and control in where to inject the fillers, therefore they can shape your nose with extreme detail.
Post-rhinoplasty defects
Nose fillers are a great choice for people who would like some touch-ups after they’ve had a surgical nose job, especially if they still feel unsatisfied with how their nose turned out after the surgery (2).
Are nose fillers safe?
Getting dermal filler injections are a common and routine treatment, but there are some risks associated. Here is a list of the most common risks associated with getting nose fillers:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Itching
- Slight pain
- Rash
Most of these side effects will occur during the treatment and for a couple of days after, and are completely normal. They should clear away within a week, and if they don’t, you should consult your health professional to make sure that your treatment was fine.
On the day of your filler injection session, make sure you wear no makeup and that your face is clean. Wearing makeup when getting filler injections can increase the risk of infection.
After getting your injections it’s recommended not to have a warm bath or sleep for 6 hours, and to not exercise for a day later in order to minimise bruising.
How long do nose fillers last?
Nose fillers last about 12 months (3), and it depends on the type of dermal filler material injected. The filler injected into your nose will naturally dissolve over time, after that you’ll need to go back to your doctor to top up again.
The nose filler injection session itself will depend on how much work you need on your nose and how many syringes, but in general, your session can be completed in about 30 minutes.
Non-surgical nose job cost
Unlike traditional nose surgery (rhinoplasty) non-surgical nose job fillers cost much less. On average, nose fillers will cost around $1000. (Around £300 – £800 in the United Kingdom).
Though it may seem cheaper than a rhinoplasty, they only last around a year and if you have to do nose fillers every other year, then the expenses could add up.
