The nose sits at the centre of the face, so even a small change to its shape can make a noticeable difference to how balanced your features look. If you have been thinking about refining yours, you will have come across two very different routes: a surgical nose job, known as rhinoplasty, and a non-surgical nose job using dermal filler.
They are not simply expensive and affordable versions of the same thing. They work in different ways, achieve different results and suit different people. Here is how they compare, so you can go into a consultation with a clearer idea of what you are looking for.
A surgical nose job, or rhinoplasty, reshapes the underlying bone and cartilage of the nose. It is a procedure carried out by a surgeon, usually under general anaesthetic or sedation, and it can make significant, permanent changes to the size and shape of the nose.
Rhinoplasty can reduce a nose that feels too large, smooth a bump on the bridge, refine or lift the tip, narrow the nostrils, straighten the profile and, in some cases, improve breathing where there is a structural problem. Because it alters the actual framework of the nose, it is the only option that can make a nose smaller or correct functional issues.
Recovery involves some swelling and bruising, and most people take a week to two weeks away from work and social plans. A splint is usually worn for the first week. The nose continues to settle over several months, with the final result becoming clear up to a year later.
A non-surgical nose job, sometimes called a liquid rhinoplasty, uses dermal filler to reshape the nose without surgery. Small, carefully placed amounts of filler can smooth the appearance of a bump, lift and define the tip, and straighten the look of the profile, creating a more balanced line.
It is a quick treatment, often completed in around 30 minutes, with little to no downtime, and you see the result straight away. Because it uses hyaluronic acid filler, the effect is temporary, typically lasting around 12 to 18 months, and can often be dissolved if needed.
The important thing to understand is what filler can and cannot do. It adds volume, so it can camouflage a bump by building up the areas around it and can lift a drooping tip. It cannot make a nose smaller, narrow a wide nose or improve breathing. For some people a subtle refinement is exactly what they want; for others, only surgery will achieve the change they have in mind.
As a general guide, a non-surgical nose job may suit you if you want to smooth a small bump, lift the tip or refine your profile, and you are happy with a temporary, adjustable result. It can also be a useful way to preview a subtle change before committing to anything permanent.
A surgical nose job is likely to be the better route if you want to make your nose smaller, correct a significant bump or asymmetry, narrow the nose, or address breathing problems, and you want a permanent result.
Many people are unsure which category they fall into, and that is completely normal. The most reliable way to know is a consultation, where a clinician can assess your nose and your goals in person and talk you through what each option would realistically achieve for you.
Both procedures carry risks, and both should only be carried out by experienced, qualified practitioners in a properly regulated setting. Rhinoplasty is major surgery with the risks that come with any operation, all of which are discussed in detail at consultation.
A non-surgical nose job is often assumed to be risk-free because it is quick, but the nose is a delicate area with a rich blood supply, and filler in this area carries a small but serious risk of vascular complications. This is exactly why it should be performed by a skilled medical injector who understands the anatomy and knows how to manage complications, rather than treated as a casual add-on.
At Kat & Co in Birmingham, our GMC-registered surgeons and aesthetic practitioners can talk you through both surgical and non-surgical options at a full consultation, and give you honest, personalised advice on which is likely to suit you best. We are regulated by the Care Quality Commission and rated Outstanding for Well Led.
You can learn more about surgical nose reshaping and about dermal filler injections, or book a consultation to discuss the right approach for you.
