Non Surgical Nose Job vs Surgical Rhinoplasty 

Thinking about getting your nose fixed? Go back a few decades and surgery would have been your only option. But that’s no longer the case! Non surgical nose jobs allow you to reshape and change the appearance of your nose, giving you more body confidence –  without going under the knife. 

But how does a non surgical nose job compare to traditional surgical rhinoplasty? 

Let’s find out… 

The Procedure

Non Surgical Nose Job

A non-surgical nose job is a very simple procedure. Using dermal fillers, similar to those used in lip enhancements or anti-ageing treatments, we can change the shape, size or appearance of your nose. By carefully injecting the filler into just the right parts of your nose we can make that bump disappear, make your nose look thinner or even lift the tip of your nose to give it a cuter appearance.

Because a non surgical nose job is – well, non surgical – it’s less invasive, less traumatic to the body, there’s no need for a general anaesthetic (which can carry high risks) and unlike surgical rhinoplasty, it can be undone if you decide you don’t like the results and decide that you preferred your old nose!

Surgical Rhinoplasty

Surgical rhinoplasty is an invasive procedure. During the surgery, you will be given a general anaesthetic to put you to sleep. The surgeon will then reshape your nose manually – depending on the results you’re looking for he might chisel some bone away, slice parts of your tissue and adjust the shape or size of your cartilage.

As with any surgery, it’s quite a trauma to the body. Most people suffer from black eyes, bruising and swelling for several days to weeks, while the body recovers. There are higher risks involved with surgical rhinoplasty, but it does offer truly permanent and quite drastic results.

Pain & Discomfort

Non Surgical Nose Job

I’ll be honest – a non surgical nose job is not a totally pain-free experience but it’s not a particularly painful one either. Most people say the whole procedure is not unpleasant – and often more comfortable than they were expecting.

During the procedure, your Aesthetic Doctor will apply a local anaesthetic to the areas they are going to inject. This helps numb the skin and make your treatment more comfortable. Some fillers, such as the ones we use here at Elite Aesthetics, actually contain a local anaesthetic too.

You should expect to feel a mild pinching sensation as the needle is inserted and perhaps some pressure as the filler is pushed into the skin. While the idea of putting needles in your nose might not be the most appealing, it’s usually a comfortable experience overall and much less painful than traditional rhinoplasty.

Surgical Rhinoplasty 

Surgical rhinoplasty is always performed under a general anaesthetic – so the actual rhinoplasty surgery itself is totally painless, due to the fact that you’re not awake. But while that might sound appealing, the pain after surgery is something that needs to be considered.

Following a surgical nose job, you will experience some mild to severe pain and discomfort. Your body has been forcibly changed and so there will be some “damage” that it needs to repair.

Most people experience pain, swelling and bruising in and around their nose for up to 3-4 weeks with some people experiencing headaches as a result too.

Side Effects & Risks

Non Surgical Nose Job

Unlike traditional rhinoplasty which can carry high risks, non surgical nose jobs are actually a very safe procedure.

This is partly due to the minimally-invasive approach of the treatment – we’re not cutting the tissue or chiselling away any bone so there’s a lower risk of infection or permanent damage. Because a non surgical nose job is completed with a local anaesthetic, instead of a general one, there’s none of the risks associated with going under either.

So how safe is it? Well, the procedure uses FDA approved dermal fillers so you can be sure that the gels being injected into your body are considered safe.

As with all procedures, there are some small risks. Some people do experience bruising at the site of the injections, mild swelling and nausea. In some very, very rare cases, people may notice the filler migrating (moving from the area it was injected) but this can be easily fixed.

When carried out by a qualified and experienced Aesthetic Doctor a non surgical nose job is usually free from complications.

Surgical Rhinoplasty 

A surgical nose job is an invasive and quite brutal procedure.

During surgery, the surgeon will cut open your nose and break or chisel the bone and cartilage to reshape and change its appearance.

As you can imagine, this would be exceeding painful if you were awake – so a general anaesthetic must be used. While general anaesthetics are used frequently without severe effects, they do carry some pretty serious risks: from dizziness, nausea and vomiting to memory loss and even death!

But it’s not only the general anaesthetic that needs to be considered – there are some side effects of the procedure itself that you need to be aware of. While many people have surgical rhinoplasty without complications, loss of sensation in the nose, scarring, difficulty breathing and even septal perforation are all possible side effects of this procedure.

Recovery

Non Surgical Nose Job

One of the huge advantages of a non surgical nose job over its surgical alternative is that the treatment itself takes only 10-15 minutes and the recovery time is minimal – no black eyes, nose splints or time off work!

Most people can continue with their day as usual straight after treatment – and the results are noticeable immediately!

Some people do have some minor bruising and swelling at the site of injection but this usually resolves within a couple of days leaving you pain-free and able to enjoy your new nose right away.

Surgical Rhinoplasty

Surgical nose jobs are a different kettle of fish altogether. You’ve probably seen the movie stars and celebrities with the nose splints, black eyes and swollen faces thanks to their latest nose job.

After surgical rhinoplasty, you will need to rest in bed for the first few days to reduce bleeding and swelling. Your nose might feel congested due to the swelling or from the splints they put inside your nose during the surgery.

You’ll most likely have internal dressings that stay in place for 1-7 days after the surgery and you’ll need to wear an external splint for about a week. You might experience some old blood and mucous seeping out of the nose too – not a pretty sight!

Full recovery time takes between 3-4 weeks and you’ll need to expect to take 1-2 weeks off work to allow your body the time and rest it needs to repair and recover.

Results

Non Surgical Nose Job

A non surgical nose job can create some pretty amazing results. An experienced Aesthetic Doctor will be able to reduce the impact of many common problems and significantly improve the appearance of your nose.

Using strategically placed dermal fillers we can make your nose appear thinner, longer or shorter. We can even out bumps, straighten a crooked nose, lift the tip or reduce the appearance of a “ski jump” nose.

We can even make a big nose look smaller too. While it can’t actually reduce the size of your nose, just small changes to the shape can have a big impact on how large your nose actually looks.

The results last between 12-18 months, or longer with top-up appointments, making it a great choice for you if you’re looking for long-lasting results without the risks of surgery.

One other advantage that this procedure holds is that it can be undone if you decide you preferred your old nose! Using specialist products we can literally dissolve the filler and return your nose to how it was before the treatment.

Surgical Rhinoplasty

This is really the only place where surgical nose jobs have the slight advantage. Because of their invasive nature, a surgical nose job can be used to get very drastic results.

Surgery can physically make your nose smaller or thinner by removing some of the bone and cartilage.

The results are permanent – which can be both a good thing or a bad thing. Great if you’re positive that you’ll love your new look and be free from complications post-surgery. Not so great if you end up disliking the way your appearance has changed.

Price

Non Surgical Nose Job

For many people, traditional plastic surgery is out of their budget. But non surgical rhinoplasty is a very affordable treatment. Here at Elite Aesthetics, our prices start from just £475 – making non surgical nose jobs a realistic solution for many more people.

Surgical Rhinoplasty

Several things will influence the cost of your surgery – but no matter what you want doing surgical rhinoplasty is not cheap! Here in the UK, with a good surgeon, this procedure will cost between £4000-£7000!  Making it unaffordable for most everyday people.

So Which Rhinoplasty Is Right For You?

Getting your nose fixed is a big decision – and not one you should make without professional advice. Here at Elite Aesthetics, we offer all our clients a consultation before any treatment. We’ll help you to understand the options available so you can decide which treatment is right for you.

Click here to find out more and book a consultation today… 

Is a non surgical nose job right for you? Or is surgical rhinoplasty the answer? Check out our latest blog post to find out…