About:

• Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is also called liquid rhinoplasty.
• The procedure consists of injecting a filler ingredient, such as hyaluronic acid, underneath your skin to temporarily change the structure of your nose.

Safety:

• Plastic surgeons consider this type of rhinoplasty as efficient and safe, though there are possible complications.
• A common side effect is redness.

Convenience:

• Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is an outpatient procedure, making it far more convenient than surgical alternatives.
• A trained provider can do the procedure in 15 minutes or less.
• In some cases, you can be back at work the same day.

Cost:

• Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is much less expensive than a traditional rhinoplasty.
• It may cost between $600 and $1,500.

Efficacy:

• Patients and doctors report being pleased with the results of nonsurgical rhinoplasty.
• However, it should be noted that in most cases, these results last for 6 months or less.

You may have heard of nonsurgical rhinoplasty referred to by its nicknames “liquid nose job” or “15-minute nose job.” A nonsurgical rhinoplasty is actually a dermal filler procedure that changes the shape of your nose for up to 6 months.

This procedure is ideal for people who are looking to smooth out bumps in their nose or make it look less angular but who aren’t ready for a permanent solution, or are worried about the risks and recovery time involved in a traditional rhinoplasty.

Going under the needle is certainly less complicated than going under the knife for a nose job, but modifying the nose’s shape is never risk-free. This article will cover the costs, procedure, recovery, and pros and cons of a liquid rhinoplasty.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is a cosmetic procedure, so insurance won’t cover it. Unlike surgical rhinoplasty, there’s really no medical reason that would cause a doctor to recommend this procedure.

Costs vary depending on what kind of filler you choose, the provider you choose, and how many injections you need. You should receive a detailed cost breakdown from your provider after your consultation so you know what to expect.

Generally, you can expect to pay around $600 to $1,500, according to estimates from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty uses dermal filler ingredients to change the shape of your nose.

A gel-like injectable ingredient (usually hyaluronic acid) is inserted underneath your skin in the areas where you wish to create smoother lines or volume. Sometimes Botox is also used.

The filler ingredient settles into where it’s injected in your deeper skin layers and holds its shape. This can change the look of your nose for anywhere from 4 months to 3 years, depending on your skin, your desired results, and the ingredient used.

The procedure for liquid rhinoplasty is fairly simple, especially compared to surgical rhinoplasty.

After a consultation where you discuss your desired results, your doctor will have you lie down with your face tilted up. You may have a topical anesthetic applied to your nose and the surrounding area so you won’t feel pain from the needle.

After the anesthetic takes effect, your doctor will inject the filler into the area around your nose and maybe the bridge of your nose itself. You might feel a slight pinching or pressure while this is done.

The whole process can take from 15 minutes or less to 45 minutes.

A nonsurgical rhinoplasty targets the bridge, tip, and sides of your nose. Fillers can be injected around any part of your nose to modify its shape.

This procedure works well if you want to:

• smooth out small bumps in your nose
• make the tip of your nose more prominent
• add volume to your nose
• lift the tip of your nose

Additionally, if you have a mild prominent bump of the bridge of your nose, it can camouflage it and smooth the contour of your nose profile.

Liquid rhinoplasty won’t be able to give you your desired results if you want your nose to look smaller or if you’re looking to smooth out more prominent bumps.

For most people, the only side effect of liquid rhinoplasty they’ll see is a little redness and sensitivity in the area of the injection in the day or two after the procedure.

Other possible side effects include:

• bruising at the site of the injection
• swelling
• filler migration, meaning the injectable ingredient migrates to other areas of your nose or the area under your eyes, creating a “wavy” or “overfilled” look
• nausea

The nose is a sensitive area. It’s filled with blood vessels and close to your eyes. That’s why liquid rhinoplasty is somewhat more complicated than other kinds of injectable filler procedures.

A trained and careful plastic surgeon will tend to err on the side of using less filler in your nose rather than overfilling the area.

One case study observed that complications are more likely to occur when an unlicensed provider attempts this procedure. Possible serious complications include:

• tissue death
• vascular complications
• vision loss

In a 2019 study of 150 people who got a nonsurgical nose job, only 1.82 percent had a complication. Speak to your doctor right away if you experience:

• fever
• blurred vision
• redness or bruising that spreads and gets worse
• hives or other symptoms of an allergic reaction

After liquid rhinoplasty, you may see pain, swelling, and redness where your injection was inserted. Within an hour or two, the injection should start to settle. The redness should start to subside, and you’ll be able to better see your desired results.

Bring an ice pack to use after your appointment. Ask your doctor if it’s OK to use it to minimize redness and inflammation.

Results should be fully visible within a week or two. Redness or bruising should completely subside by then.

As far as downtime, people who swear by liquid rhinoplasty love that there’s practically no recovery time. You can be back to work and your normal activities the very same day.

Most filler ingredients will dissolve into your skin layer within 6 months. Some filler ingredients will last up to 3 years. No matter what, results of a liquid nose job aren’t permanent.

Here are some examples of people who’ve had nonsurgical rhinoplasty to change the shape of their nose.

Different filler ingredients have different guidelines for how to prep for your procedure. Your provider should give you detailed instructions on what to do before a nonsurgical rhinoplasty.

The suggestions below are broad guidelines:

1. Avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatory medication (such as ibuprofen), vitamin E supplements, and any other blood-thinning supplements in the week before the procedure. If you’re on any blood-thinning medication, make sure your doctor knows it.
2. Be aware of your vitamin K levels to reduce the risk of bruising. Eat lots of green, leafy vegetables to boost your vitamin K in the weeks before your procedure.
3. Drink plenty of water and eat a meal before your appointment. Don’t overeat, as you may feel nauseous during or after the appointment, but do make sure you’ve eaten something with starch and protein.

Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is for you only if you’re looking to experiment with how modifications to your nose might look, or if you’re looking to tweak your nose in small ways to change your appearance.

If you’re looking for dramatic changes to the shape of your nose, you might want to consider traditional rhinoplasty instead.

Pros of nonsurgical rhinoplasty

• Nonsurgical rhinoplasty allows you to avoid going under general anesthesia.
• You’ll have a quick recovery.
• After this procedure, you can return to work and your regular activities as soon as the same or next day.
• Results aren’t permanent, so if you’re not pleased with how it looks, it’s just a matter of time before the fillers metabolize.
• The cost of nonsurgical rhinoplasty is much lower than a traditional rhinoplasty.

Cons of nonsurgical rhinoplasty

• If you’re looking for a dramatic, permanent change to your appearance, this procedure might be disappointing for you.
• There are side effects, such as bruising and swelling.
• There’s the possibility that a misplaced needle could result in visible bleeding under your skin or damage to your vision.
• This is a relatively new procedure, so long-term side effects aren’t well studied yet.
• Insurance won’t cover any of the cost.

Pros of traditional rhinoplasty

• The results of traditional rhinoplasty are bold and permanent.
• You won’t need another procedure to “re-up” or “refresh” the results in a few months or years.
• This procedure isn’t a new one, so side effects and possible complications are well studied and well known.
• Insurance could possibly cover it if you have a related medical issue, such as breathing difficulties.

Cons of traditional rhinoplasty

• If you don’t like the result, there’s not much else you can do besides wait for it to heal and then get another rhinoplasty.
• This procedure is usually conducted in a hospital under general anesthesia.
• Risks of complications like infection are much higher.
• It costs significantly more than nonsurgical rhinoplasty.

When considering nonsurgical rhinoplasty, you don’t want to look for the cheapest provider who may not have experience with this specific procedure.

An experienced plastic surgeon will know what to do to deliver the results you’re looking for while minimizing the risks of side effects.

To find a doctor to perform this procedure, use the American Society of Plastic Surgeon’s database tool to find board certified plastic surgeons in your area.