My mother used to tell me that sometimes a short cut is a long cut. More and more patients are seeking non surgical procedures to avoid surgery. This has revolutionized the face with the use of botox and fillers. Recently, more and more surgeons are using fillers in the nose as a replacement for rhinoplasty. Some of these surgeons even perform a substantial number of rhinoplasties. Aesthetically speaking, I don’t believe the results from a non surgical rhinoplasty are similar. A non surgical rhinoplasty can only add filler to the nose will a surgical rhinoplasty can create many more surgical options.
Some fillers are probably OK for the nose in specific circumstances and these are from the hyaluronic acid family such as Restylane or Juvederm. These fillers provide a temporary filling of a defect and can assist in small areas with slight imperfections. There is a small risk of infection with these fillers but they are completely reversible and an experienced injector can inject in the proper tissue plane.
The problems is that patients will want a permanent solution to the issue. The main problems with facial fillers in the nose is that it can lead to permanent damage to the soft tissues of the nose. Radiesse and Artefill are the two fillers used most commonly in the nose. Many of these fillers are injected by non-physicians in a spa setting. While it may seem harmless to inject less than a tablespoon of material into the nose, it can lead to significant and severe problems. Radiesse can lead to permanent changes to the soft tissue of the nose and makes rhinoplasty very difficult. It should never be injected in the nose. Artefill is termed a permanent filler and can lead to granulomas and permanent lumps in the nose.