After years of experience and thousands of non-surgical rhinoplasties performed, it is time to share the most important things people ask, and what you must know, about the non-surgical rhinoplasty. Whether you’re just starting to research your options, or ready to make a decision about your treatment, there is so much misinformation available.
Here, we break down the facts about non-surgical rhinoplasty. No exaggerated claims. No sugar-coated sales-pitches. Just honest, transparent information to help you.
While the team here at Cosmetic Connection are non-surgical rhinoplasty experts, we want to arm you with the knowledge you need to make a good decision.
Understanding non-surgical rhinoplasty
What is non-surgical rhinoplasty?
The non-surgical rhinoplasty is a non-invasive treatment design to change the shape of your nose.
It is also known as a non-surgical nose job, liquid rhinoplasty, or nose fillers.
The treatment uses injections of dermal fillers to temporarily change the underlying shape. Dermal fillers work by volumising the tissue beneath the skin, and are typically used to smooth bumps, fill indentations, and lift and refine the nose tip.
Can dermal fillers be used in the nose?
Yes, dermal fillers are frequently used in the nose to change its shape. The most common indications for using dermal fillers in the nose are to smooth a dorsal hump, straighten crookedness, and add projection to the nose tip.
Can dermal filler lift the nose tip?
Dermal fillers are a fast and effective way to lift the nose tip. By placing fillers in the nose tip, the projection is enhanced. This give your nose tip a more lifted and sharper appearance.
The suitability for nose tip dermal fillers depends on the thickness of the overlying skin. There are more limitations in people with thicker skin which is harder to reshape.
What is a non-surgical nose job?
A non-surgical nose job is a non-invasive treatment to change the shape of your nose. It is another name for a non-surgical rhinoplasty, and primarily uses dermal filler injections. The most common indications for a non-surgical nose job are to smooth a dorsal hump and lift the nose tip. It can also straighten crookedness, and improve the result of a surgical nose job.
How does non-surgical rhinoplasty differ from traditional rhinoplasty?
A non-surgical rhinoplasty is a non-invasive treatment that uses dermal fillers to instantly change the shape of your nose. The treatment takes 10-20 minutes, with highly precise results that are fully reversible and typically require maintenance every 12-24 months on average.
Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to change the shape and function of the nose. It is invasive, with higher risk, cost and downtime than its non-surgical counterpart, but gives a permanent result. It can also make more dramatic changes to the appearance of the nose.
What types of nose imperfections can be addressed with non-surgical rhinoplasty?
The non-surgical rhinoplasty can address a number of nose imperfections. These include:
- Dorsal humps/bumps
- Drooping nose tip
- Crookedness
- Unsatisfactory results from rhinoplasty surgery
- Lack of bridge definition/projection
- A short or unbalanced nose
- A ski-slope nose
Is non-surgical rhinoplasty noticeable?
The results from a non-surgical rhinoplasty are noticeable, but when done correctly look natural and undetectable. Most people notice that others make comments that they look better, but cannot point out what is different. How noticeable your result is depends on the extent of your treatment, which can be tailored to your preferences when designing your treatment plan.
Can non-surgical rhinoplasty correct functional issues with the nose, such as breathing difficulties?
No, the non-surgical rhinoplasty cannot treat functional issues with the nose. This is because the treatment works by adding volume to the external aspect, leaving the underlying bone and cartilage unchanged. Functional issues with the nose can only be treated with surgery.
Can I combine non-surgical rhinoplasty with other cosmetic procedures?
The beauty of the non-surgical rhinoplasty is that it is very easy to combine it with other cosmetic procedures. This is a popular choice for people who want to not only refine their nose, but to achieve a more harmonious facial profile.
The most common procedures performed in combination with a non-surgical rhinoplasty are a lip augmentation and chin augmentation.
How to get a nose job without surgery?
The most effective way to get a nose job without surgery is the non-surgical rhinoplasty. This is a non-invasive, no downtime treatment that uses injections of dermal filler to instantly reshape your nose. The treatment takes 10-20 minutes, and achieves fully reversible results, typically requiring maintenance every 12-24 months.
What is a 3 point rhinoplasty?
A 3-point rhinoplasty is another name for the non-surgical rhinoplasty, which is a treatments that uses dermal filler to change the appearance of your nose.
What is the Tinkerbell nose tip?
A Tinkerbell nose tip is a style of non-surgical rhinoplasty that focusses on emphasising a lifted nose tip. This is usually achieved by focussing on the nose bridge and tip, and avoiding treatment to the supra-tip area (the point just above the nose tip). This results in a sharper inflection point from the top of your nose to your tip, giving a Tinkerbell look.
How to contour your nose with dermal filler
Dermal fillers are a simple yet effective way to improve the contours of your nose. An qualified cosmetic doctor will use dermal filler to add structure to hollow areas and indentations, smooth any bumps and irregularities, and add projection to your nose tip. This results in a smoother, straighter, more lifted and contoured nose.
Common myths about nose fillers
There are a number of myths about nose fillers, some of which are true, and others which are false.
Myth 1: Nose fillers can cause blindness
True: Nose fillers can cause blindness if not performed carefully. Blindness after nose fillers is extremely rare when the treatment is performed correctly. This is why it is crucial to only trust a qualified doctor with extensive experience in nose fillers with your treatment.
Myth 2: Nose fillers make your nose look bigger
False: When performed carefully, nose fillers do not make your nose look bigger. In fact, improving the shape and balance of your nose often makes your nose look smaller. There are some cases where your nose may look slightly bigger, usually when trying to camouflage a large dorsal hump.
Myth 3: Nose fillers are high-risk
False: When performed carefully by a highly qualified and experienced medical doctor, nose fillers are low risk. They are high risk when performed by someone lacking in experience.
Myth 4: Nose fillers are painful
False: If performed properly, nose fillers have surprisingly little discomfort. The fillers used also contain anaesthetic, further reducing discomfort, and there are other ways to minimise pain if you are concerned.
Myth 5: Nose fillers don’t last
False: When performed using high quality fillers, most people achieve results from nose filler that last 12-24 months and beyond. Common reasons why the filler didn’t last are if the filler was poor quality or not enough was injected.
Value and cost
How much does non-surgical rhinoplasty cost?
The cost of a non-surgical rhinoplasty can vary significantly, depending on the skill and experience of the provider, the location of the clinic, and what is included as part of your treatment.
Most clinics charge $1000-$1500 for a non-surgical rhinoplasty. This typically includes a consultation and follow-up appointment. Exercise extreme caution with clinics charging less, who often use poor quality products, and compromise procedure safety, increasing the risk of complications.
Are nose fillers worth it?
Whether nose fillers are worth it depends on a number of variables. There are the treatment related factors and personal ones. When deciding whether nose fillers are worthwhile, consider the following:
Treatment factors
- Convenience: nose fillers are a fast treatment with no downtime.
- Cost: Typically $1000-$1500 for a safe treatment performed by a qualified provider.
- Results: highly precise, with most concerns able to be addressed.
- Longevity: results typically require maintenance every 12-24 months.
- Reversibility: nose fillers can be dissolved at any time.
- Risks: including infection, allergic reactions, and skin and soft tissue damage (although this is rare when the treatment is performed correctly)
Personal factors
- How much does the appearance of your nose bother you?
- How often does the appearance of your nose bother you?
- What result are you looking for?
Most people concerned about the appearance of their nose proceed with nose fillers as a first step. Surgery can be explored later if you desire something more permanent, and if you are no longer concerned about the appearance of your nose, the fillers will slowly wear off over time.
Do you need a top up for nose filler?
One of the interesting things about nose fillers is that sometimes more than one treatment is required to achieve a stable result. The likelihood of requiring a top-up within the first few weeks after your treatment depends on the degree of correction performed, and the tightness of the overlying skin.
Typically, 5-10% of people need a top-up within 4 weeks of their initial treatment.
Beyond this, periodic maintenance is required, generally every 12-24 months. Although the interval will vary depending on the degree of correction, skin tightness, your expectations, and how fast your body metabolises the dermal filler.
Safety and side effects
Are non-surgical nose fillers safe?
Nose fillers are categorised as a low-risk treatment, however this is highly dependent on how the treatment is performed. Inexperienced providers have a higher chance of causing a complication, which ranges from bruising and swelling, to skin damage and blindness.
Ensuring your treatment is performed by an experienced medical doctor is the best way to keep the risks of nose fillers low.
What are the side effects of nose fillers?
All cosmetic procedures have potential side effects. Ensuring your treatment is performed safely using high quality products, and following the aftercare instructions are the most effective way to avoid side effects.
The side effects of nose fillers include:
- Bruising, swelling, redness and tenderness
- Unsatisfactory results, short longevity and migration
- Infections, allergic reactions, and inflammatory reactions (where your body ‘rejects’ the filler)
- Stroke, blindness, and skin and soft tissue damage
Is nose filler high risk?
Nose filler is a low risk treatment, but the chance of a side effect increases significantly when performed by an inexperienced provider.
There are some simple steps you can take to ensure your treatment is performed safely:
- Choose a reputable cosmetic clinic run by a doctor
- Check the credentials and experience of your chosen clinician
- Choose a doctor who has performed thousands of cases
- Ask which products are used for the treatment
- Ensure your treatment starts with an ultrasound to check for major blood vessels
- Carefully follow all aftercare instructions
Can nose fillers migrate?
Yes, nose fillers can migrate. There are a number of reasons why nose fillers migrate.
- At the time of injection: if the filler is injected with too much pressure. This should be avoided as injecting in this manner is highly dangerous.
- If too much filler is injected: overfilling the nose places the tissue under pressure, causing migration. This occurs if too much filler is placed in one appointment, or if you have the treatment too frequently.
- If pressure is applied to the nose too early: fillers take time to settle, so you must avoid pressure to your nose for at least 7 days after fillers have been injected.
- Due to facial movements: fillers placed on the nose bridge sit below a muscle called procerus. Over time this muscle can cause the filler to migrate upwards. You can reduce the chance of this by having anti-wrinkle injections to the muscle, reducing its activity. Migrated filler caused by procerus is easy to address, as it can simply be remoulded into position.
If you do have nose filler migration, do not panic. It is not harmful and is easy to treat. Filler migration can by addressed with massage, or by dissolving. This should be done by an experienced clinician.
Procedure and sessions
How much filler is needed for non-surgical nose job?
The amount of filler required for a non-surgical nose job can vary significantly from person to person. A typical treatment uses anywhere from 0.4-0.8ml of dermal fillers, but can be as low as 0.1ml for minor imperfections, and over 1ml for more substantial treatments.
How many sessions of nose fillers are there?
Most people only require 1 session of nose filler to achieve a satisfactory result. However, 5-10% of people do require more than one treatment. Typically more treatments are required if you desire a more substantial change, or if your skin is thick and tight.
How long does it take for nose fillers to settle?
Swelling after nose fillers typically resolves in 3-5 days, however fillers can take up to 4 weeks to fully settle. During this time it is important to look after your nose, and avoid applying any pressure to the treated areas.
Where should you not inject nose filler?
Fillers can be injected in almost all areas of the nose, but some areas are higher-risk than others. The only area fillers cannot be injected are the alar grooves (the curved lines that sit above the bulging aspect of your nostrils).
Can a nose filler slim your nose?
While nose filler cannot make your nose narrower, it can give it a slimmer apperance.
By carefully placing fillers in the midline of your nose, the centre-most aspect is projected into a slimmer apex.
This is similar to a peaked mountain compared to a flat mountain of the same circumference when observed from a bird’s-eye view. The peaked mountain will look slimmer, despite being the same width at the base.
Comparisons & other options
Is a non-surgical rhinoplasty better than a surgical rhinoplasty?
The non-surgical rhinoplasty has a number of advantages over surgery. It is faster, easier, more convenient, lower cost, and lower risk. However, whether or not it is better depends on your concerns and personal preferences. Surgery has some advantages over fillers: it can do more, and make more dramatic changes which are permanent.
When deciding between surgical and non-surgical rhinoplasty, always start with a consultation so that you can work out what is right for you.
Is it safe to travel to Turkey for a rhinoplasty?
There are many risks when travelling overseas to countries like Turkey for a rhinoplasty. Most people travel because it is cheaper, but things like language barriers, poor pre and post-operative care, and lax healthcare standards mean the chance of a complication may be much higher.
Are nose fillers better than nose thread lifts?
Nose fillers have many advantages over nose threads. They are much less painful, faster, have less downtime, and are more affordable. The results from nose fillers are also much more precise. So why would someone choose nose threads?
Nose threads are best suited for people have have a very flat nasal bridge requiring significant projection, but who want to avoid surgery. This is the only case where threads may be preferable, but fillers remain an option in such circumstances.
Post-procedure care/aftercare and considerations
Can I touch my nose after a non-surgical nose job?
After having a non-surgical nose job, you should avoid touching your nose as much as possible Applying pressure to your nose before the fillers settle increases the risk of migration.
How do you sleep with nose fillers?
After nose fillers, it’s important to avoid sleeping on your stomach for 7 days. Stomach sleeping can result in pressure being applied to your nose, increasing the risk of migration.
Can nose filler move if you touch it?
Yes, nose fillers can move if you apply pressure to them. Typically nose fillers are most prone to moving in the first 7 days, which is why you should avoid applying pressure to your nose until they settle.
How long are you swollen after nose fillers?
Most people find that they have very little swelling after nose fillers. Any swelling generally resolves within 2-3 days, and you can expedite the healing process by carefully following the nose filler aftercare. This includes gently applying a wrapped cold pack to your nose, and avoiding alcohol and intense exercise for 24 hours.
Does nose filler stay in place?
When performed carefully, nose fillers should not move out of position. Poor techniques increase the risk of nose filler movement, so it’s important to choose an experienced provider for your treatment.
Occasionally nose fillers may slightly lose their position over time, but this is typically very easy to address.
What is the aftercare after non-surgical rhinoplasty?
There are a few important aftercare steps you should follow after having a non-surgical rhinoplasty.
Avoid alcohol and intense exercise for 24 hours, as they can worsen swelling.
Keep your skin clean and avoid makeup for 24 hours to reduce the chance of an infection.
Be careful to avoid applying pressure to your nose for 7 days, which can cause migration.
Gently apply a wrapped cold pack to your nose after your treatment to minimise swelling.
Nose filler types and selection
What is the best filler for non-surgical rhinoplasty?
The best type of filler to use for a non-surgical rhinoplasty is thick and able to hold its shape. Typically, nose fillers should have a elastic modulus, highly viscous, and low flexibility.
Using fillers with unsuitable characteristics results in poor outcomes and side effects like migration.
Can dermal fillers be used to reshape the nose without surgery?
Yes, dermal fillers are the most effective way to change the shape of your nose without surgery. They have become the first-line treatment for most aesthetic concerns people have about their nose. When used correctly, fillers can improve the appearance of humps and bumps, a drooping nose tip, and crookedness. They can also improve the result of a surgical rhinoplasty.
Is nose filler better than surgery?
Most people prefer to choose fillers to change the shape of their nose. This is because it is faster, easier, lower risk, and can be reversed. Surgery is typically reserved for people with significant concerns about their nose that cannot be addressed with fillers, and for people with functional problems.
Which is safer nose thread or filler?
Nose fillers are safer than threads. While the risk profiles are different, the fact that nose fillers can be reversed makes them significantly safer. Threads have a range of significant complications that may be very difficult to manage without surgery.
What to do if you aren’t happy with your surgical nose job result
Dissatisfaction after a surgical rhinoplasty may be far greater than previously thought. This is believed to be because it is very difficult to achieve a perfect result from surgery, and when people must go through considerable pain and recovery and pay a high price, anything short of their ideal result can be hard to live with.
For those that aren’t happy with the result from their nose job, there are three options.
- Do nothing: sometimes coming to terms with what has happened and learning to accept it is the best approach, but this is easier said than done.
- Revision surgery: more surgery may be needed, especially for more pronounced problems. The issue with this is that it usually comes with higher cost, more risk, and more variability in the result.
- Dermal fillers: in many cases, fillers can be use dot fine-tune the result from your surgical rhinoplasty. This means you can achieve the result you wanted from your operation, without having to go under the knife again.
Eligibility and choosing a practitioner
Who is the best candidate for nose fillers?
The ideal candidate for nose filler has the following characteristics:
- Realistic expectations about what is achievable
- Have realistic goals for their nose
- Have mild to moderate concerns
- Have flexible skin
The most common indications for nose fillers are a dorsal hump and droopy nose tip.
Wide-set nostrils, and very large humps or asymmetries are typically not treatable with fillers.
Who is not suitable for nose filler?
You may not be suitable for nose filler in the following circumstances:
- Your goals are not achievable with fillers
- Your expectations are too high
- You have extensive scar tissue on your nose from previous surgery or trauma
- You want to slim wide-set nostrils
- You have a very large/significant issue that you want to improve
How do I choose a qualified and experienced practitioner for non-surgical rhinoplasty?
There are some important steps to take to ensure you choose the right practitioner for your non-surgical rhinoplasty:
- Look at their qualifications and ensure they are a qualified doctor with proper training in cosmetic medicine
- Look how long they have been practicing in cosmetic medicine
- Ask how many non-surgical rhinoplasties they have performed
- Review their before and after photos, looking for consistent results on different types of noses
- Check their reviews, and speak to people you may know who have had treatment with the practitioner
- Have a consultation, and see how professional and competent the practitioner is
Are there any age restrictions for non-surgical rhinoplasty?
You must be over 18 years of age to be eligible for the non-surgical rhinoplasty.
Results and satisfaction
Does your nose go back to normal after fillers?
If you do not maintain your nose fillers, they will eventually wear off and your nose will go back to normal. People who have had nose fillers for many years only to let them wear off must appreciate that their nose will have been ageing, and so may look different to the nose they remember. This is not a result of the fillers.
Will my nose look bigger after fillers?
In most cases your nose will not look bigger after fillers. Improving the shape and balance of your nose with fillers often makes it look smaller. You may also combine your nose fillers with cosmetic treatment to your forehead, lips and chin. By bringing these features into balance, your nose will become proportionally smaller.
Can non-surgical rhinoplasty be reversed if I’m not satisfied with the results?
As long as your non-surgical rhinoplasty was performed using hyaluronic acid dermal fillers, then your result can be fully reversed with an injection of dermal filler dissolver.
How long is the recovery time after non-surgical rhinoplasty?
One of the most popular reasons people choose to have a non-surgical rhinoplasty is because there is no recovery time. There are a few minor limitations on activity, and some simple aftercare steps to follow, but you will be able to resume most activity immediately after your appointment.
Do you have questions about the non-surgical rhinoplasty?
Get in touch! We have performed the liquid rhinoplasty on thousands of people with noses of all shapes and sizes, and are happy to help answer any questions you may have.
