Want to get some cosmetic work done on your nose but do not tens of thousands of dollars to make it happen? Consider a nose filler. Nose fillers make your nose look smaller, can correct bumps or humps on the nose, or can make your nose look narrower. Using hyaluronic acid injections skilled practitioners are able to achieve cosmetic surgery-like results without the surgery.
The additional plus to having a nose filler versus an actual cosmetic nose job (called rhinoplasty) is there is zero downtime after the procedure. Here’s what you need to know before you decide to get a nose filler procedure and tips to help you get the less invasive nose job of your dreams.
The Difference Between Nose Fillers and Rhinoplasty
Nose filler procedures, also referred to as liquid rhinoplasty, is vastly different from the cosmetic procedure called surgical rhinoplasty. Liquid rhinoplasty is temporary and must be redone periodically. Surgical rhinoplasty is forever.
You may wish to have liquid rhinoplasty if you are not completely sure you want to have surgery. This allows you to change your mind if you do not like the results. If you opt for the surgical rhinoplasty then you must live with the results as they will be permanent.
Nose filler procedures utilize hyaluronic acid (HA) and is the same filler used for those having lip or cheek procedures. Some of the most popular brands of HA include Restylane and Juvéderm. Additionally, several studies suggest that HA gel has far superior results than surgical rhinoplasty in some nasal issues.
Pros of Nose Fillers
Nose fillers are becoming very popular for many reasons. Those reasons do not include just the lower financial price tag. They also include the following Pros:
- Procedures take only 15 minutes or less.
- There is little to no downtime after the procedure.
- You experience immediate results.
- It is reversible.
- There is no need for anesthesia.
- It is cheaper than surgery. Most nose filler procedures run $500-1500 dollars compared to the over $5,000 price tag for surgical rhinoplasty.
Cons of Nose Filler Procedures
- Nose fillers yield temporary results that must be renewed.
- Possible complications can stem from a blocked vein in the nose.
- You may receive unacceptable results if your practitioner is not skilled.
Important Things to Know About Nose Filler Practitioners
Nose filler practitioners are physicians trained to perform this procedure. Avoid at all costs those persons advertising a very low price, but who are not actually doctors. Where cosmetic procedures are concerned, experience matters. The contouring and reshaping of the face is an almost artistic endeavor and you want someone who has done this procedure multiple times for multiple years and has a steady hand. This is because it matters where the filler is placed.
Consider that your appearance is perceived by other human eyes by the way the light plays over your face. Filler is used to redirect the way the light reflects off your skin and its contours. This is how your nose looks smaller, more defined or how a hump can seem to “magically” disappear.
If you are considering surgical rhinoplasty for nostril size, you may wish to reconsider. Liquid rhinoplasty is quicker, has less downtime and the nostril size is reduced by placing the HA in the corners of your nose to achieve the affect.
Similarly, nose fillers can also give you a low cost nose lift. Nose filler, when injected at the base of the nose, gives it a lift. This procedure does make your eyes water when the injection is applied, but the results are often quite striking. The lifting procedure is most often requested by older adults whose nose has begun to sag with age.
Possible Side Effects of Liquid Nose Fillers
Most who receive the nose filler procedure have little to no side effects. Those who do have side effects experienced the following:
- Slight bruising at the injection site.
- Nausea.
- Slight swelling (that goes away).
- Material migration (where the HA moves away from the site of the injection into other areas).
If you enlist the services of someone who is not a licensed provider then severe complications can occur. A 2019 study showed that those who elected to have this procedure, and who obtained the procedure from someone trained to do it, had much less complications. Those who used the services of someone not licensed often experienced tissue death at the injection site, vision loss and vascular complications (such as vein blockage or collapse).
Tips for the Day of Your Nose Filler Procedure
On the day of your nose filler procedure do yourself a huge favor and bring an ice pack with you. Store it in a insulated lunch box or a cooler bag from your grocery. This will help to minimize inflammation and redness after the procedure. Understand that while many see drastic improvement and changes immediately, most take at least a couple of weeks to truly see the results. Slight bruising or redness is to be expected and should go away within the week. This type of procedure only lasts about six months, os prepare to see your doctor at least a couple of times a year.