A Nose Job Without the Surgery

In several cultures around the world, new mothers are told by grandmothers or other old ladies of the house, that they should pull the nose of their newborn, while massaging them with oil. This ensures that the nose is slim and sharp, when the child grows up and is proud of his or her nose. That is how important a nose is to the face, and it is not just the organ that allows us to inhale and exhale. This would explain why when a lot of people are not happy with the way their nose looks, they immediately start considering surgery.

However, rhinoplasty or the surgery to correct the shape or structure of a nose is not affordable for everyone. In addition, many people are concerned about the pain and downtime involved. For such people, there is now a new option at hand – non-surgical rhinoplasty. In this article, we will look at this procedure in detail.

What is non-surgical rhinoplasty?

Non-surgical rhinoplasty is yet another medical procedure, in which fillers are used, which can be injected into the nose. These fillers can either change or simply shape the nose, without any incisions or sutures. If there are any depressed areas of the nose, these fillers are injected to create a rise. This means that this procedure can be used only to increase the size of the nose, but not reduce it. At times, the procedure is used to ease out breathing difficulties.

What is the history of non-surgical rhinoplasty?

The beginnings of non-surgical rhinoplasty are reportedly from the early 19th century, when James Leonard Corning, a renowned neurologist in New York joined hands with Robert Gersuny, a physician from Austria to use paraffin wax in its liquid form to increase the size of a deflated nose. However, liquid paraffin wax actually proved to be harmful to the human body.

It was only in the 1960s that tissue fillers came into existence and surgeons started using gels that were silicone based. But these too proved to be harmful to the human body, and surgeons realised that the only way out was to inject small amounts of silicone gel, over a longer period of time.

In the new millennium, newer fillers started appearing and surgeons too started understanding how to work with the nose, in the best possible manner. These days, fillers that have been approved by the FDA are being used to fill the nasal passages. American otolaryngologist Dr. Alexander Rivkin is a pioneer in this field and he suggested a procedure wherein small doses would be injected into the nose and the dents would be filled out. With this process, surgeons can ensure that a nose that is slightly curved or appears bumpy can be smoothened out. Today several fillers are being used by surgeons, all over the world.

What are the fillers being used today?

The very first fillers included liquefied paraffin wax and silicone in a gel form; but both of these proved harmful to the human body and their usage had to be discontinued. Modern day fillers include:

Properties of Calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse): This calcium based filler will not cause any allergies and is a reasonably long term solution (10 to 14 months). The effects of the filler are not reversible.

Properties of Liquid silicone: Silicone gel is often used as a long term solution for nose related issues. However, the best method of using silicone is in the microdroplet technique, wherein small amounts are injected over a series of sessions.

Properties of Hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane or Voluma): This is a safe but temporary filler that is known not to cause any allergies. The effects will last anywherebetween six to ten months. The filler can be dissolved quite easily by using an enzyme, hyaluronidase.

Properties of Polymethylmethacrylate (Artefill): This is a permanent filler, which is manufactured using plastic beads, which are not only inert, but also used for microscopic surgery. The carrier is actually a bovine collagen, which is why a skin test will be suggested in advance. Like liquid silicone, this too has to be dministered in small doses, in multiple sessions.

Properties of Polyacrylamide gel (PAAG or Aquamid): Another permanent filler, PAAG is more popular in Asia and Australia, since the product has not been approved by the USFDA.

What is the procedure?

Ideally, non-surgical rhinoplasty is best suited for people who have very minor flaws in their nose or are simply looking for a method to breathe a little easier. The procedure cannot be used to reduce the size of the nose, however, by making it more streamlined, it can look more proportionate on your face. The process is normally used to provide definition to the nasal bridge or make the nose look more precise. A precision syringe is used to administer the filler, which is injected into the pre-determined areas with care. Since small amounts of fillers are used at a time, there is minimal swelling or bruising, as could be the case with a surgical rhinoplasty.

The area around the nose will be anaesthetised, so that you feel no discomfort. A sterile syringe, which is pre-packed with the appropriate filler and a hypodermic needle, will be used for the process. The injecting is done in the deep subcutaneous tissues and normally, the process does not take more than 20-30 minutes. In most cases, the person can go back to their normal routine, almost immediately.

How and for whom does non-surgical rhinoplasty work?

The procedure can be used for:

•Minimal reduction of the size of nostrils
•Removal of a nasal hump
•Augmenting a flat looking nasal bridge
•Projecting the nasal tip a little more
•Filling depressions caused on the sidewalls of the nose
•Injuries caused due to accidents or trauma

What are the possible problems?

There are chances of things going wrong with non-surgical rhinoplasty and these could include:

•Infection
•Discomfort
•Trouble breathing
•Hematoma
•Asymmetry
•Reaction to foreign bodies