Non-surgical rhinoplasty - Hyaluronic acid injections
If you want to change the shape of your nose without undergoing surgery in an operating room, then hyaluronic acid injections are for you!
This is called medical rhinoplasty .
The method involves using a filler, most often hyaluronic acid . It is rarer, but some doctors use calcium hydroxyapatite (HACa), also called radiesse, which has the same effect.
Botox (botulinum toxin), which is used to freeze muscles to remove wrinkles , will not be used directly on the nose because there are no muscles in the nose. However, it can be used around the nose to remove wrinkles.
Get a nose job without surgery
Injections can correct the following problems:
- Nasofrontal angle too sharp. We will correct this by injecting a product to soften the angle.
- Hooked nose (correction of the angle between the lip and the nose).
- Drooping nose. The tip of the nose is inflated to give a raised appearance to the tip.
- Bump on the nose. The doctor will inject medication before and after the bump to flatten the bridge of the nose.
- Hollow in the nose (or trumpet nose). The doctor will fill the hollow by inflating the area.
- Asymmetrical nose (only in cases of slight deviation). The doctor will inflate the opposite side of the deviation.
- Retouching after nasal surgery.
- Improved overall profile harmony.
Since this method adds volume, it cannot be used for noses whose problem is that they are large, overly long, or too long… this would only accentuate the problem. Only surgical rhinoplasty can be effective on this type of nose.
Why get nose injections?
Medical rhinoplasty is widely practiced because it has many advantages.
- Testing a new nose before rhinoplasty surgery.
- This is the least expensive solution for modifying your nose.
- This avoids an invasive and painful operation. It does not require general anesthesia or time off work.
- The results are stabilized within a few days.
- For people who are afraid of surgery.
- The only solution for patients who absolutely want to modify their nose but who have not yet reached the bone/cartilage maturity to consider surgical rhinoplasty.
Please note that this solution has no impact on proper breathing; it only acts on the surface. Therefore, only septoplasty can have an impact on the nasal septum.
How is the injection given?
Who is allowed to inject hyaluronic acid?
In France, only doctors (and therefore surgeons) are authorized to inject products of this type. Hyaluronic acid is a moldable and relatively dense gel. It is injected into the bones and cartilage, where it attaches.
The preliminary appointment
It is mandatory to have a prior appointment with the doctor so that he can present you with the method, the risks, the possible complications, etc., and so that you have time to think about it. You can come to the appointment with a photo simulation to ask the surgeon if it is feasible. Some doctors include a before/after simulation in their package.
Duration
Medical rhinoplasty lasts 30 minutes to 1 hour. The doctor begins by disinfecting the area. The product is injected under the skin with a very fine needle or cannula. The products are biocompatible and perfectly tolerated by the body (except for those with allergies; your doctor will be able to advise you).
Anesthesia
The operation can be performed without anesthesia. Hyaluronic acid syringes contain lidocaine, which provides local anesthesia. If you are sensitive, the surgeon may offer local anesthesia (injection) or apply an anesthetic cream.
Exit from the office
You can resume your normal life as soon as you leave the office. Your nose will be a little red and swollen, but this will subside very quickly. It is advisable not to touch your nose or wear glasses for 24 to 48 hours (some doctors recommend 7 days without glasses) to avoid the product moving before it is completely fixed. You can apply makeup immediately after the injection. However, we advise you to wait 48 hours before resuming sport and to protect your nose from extreme heat (steam room, sun, etc.) and extreme cold for 1 week.
There are no scars, bandages, wicks or casts to wear afterward.
Is it permanent? How long does it last?
No, this method is not permanent. The results will gradually fade over time, and you will regain your original nose after approximately 12 to 16 months.
In case of error or regret, it is possible to dissolve hyaluronic acid with hyaluronidase (enzyme).
It is advisable to wait until the product is completely absorbed before having a surgical rhinoplasty (if you decide to have one).
Is medical rhinoplasty (injections) reimbursed?
No, hyaluronic acid injections are considered cosmetic surgery and are not reimbursed by the CPAM (social security). Generally, mutual insurance companies do not reimburse injections either.
In which cases are injections not recommended?
This method is minimally invasive, has few contraindications but there may be certain cases where it is not recommended:
- A person with skin that is too thick, too fleshy.
- In case of herpes outbreak at the time of injection.
- If you are currently taking anticoagulant medication (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, heparin, aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, etc.), injections may trigger bleeding that will not stop.
- During pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Allergy to injected products.
- Weak immune system (Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vitiligo, Crohn’s disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, etc.)
Medical rhinoplasty allows for minor corrections to the nose, reshaping it without surgery. It’s the best alternative to surgical rhinoplasty. It’s temporary and must be performed by a licensed physician.
Before/After Simulator in Medical Rhinoplasty
Want to simulate a hyaluronic acid injection ?
Upload your profile photo and tell us what type of changes you’d like to see on your nose. We’ll send you a modified photo to show you what it could look like. You can then show this photo to your surgeon.