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A New Nose – Without Surgery!

Posted: Tuesday 9 November 2010 09:37am

If a nose is too big, too small, oddly shaped, has bumps, dents or a drooping tip, it’s hard to ignore. It’s right there, smack in the middle of your face.

Of all the facial features, the nose is the one that can make people feel unduly self-conscious and impact on their self-esteem.

Until recently, surgery was the only viable treatment option but advances in dermal fillers have led to a non-surgical technique that provides balance and harmony to the face without the cost of surgical rhinoplasty.

Nose resculpting can take as little as 10 minutes to correct common irregularities, according to Dr Joseph Hkeik, of All Saints Cosmedical, Sydney.

“It even works on fixing drooping nose tips which can be quite common as we age,” he says. “This is one of my most popular procedures as it’s fuss-free, has no downtime and stacks up well cost-wise next to rhinoplasty.”

“The beauty of this treatment is that no one will even notice you’ve had the procedure done – they will just think you look better. In 90 per cent of cases now, patients who come to me will opt for this treatment rather than proceed with a rhinoplasty.”

Patients are also using the method to “preview” what their nose may look like after rhinoplasty.

The nose is resculpted or corrected by injecting small amounts of dermal filler into the nose to rebalance irregularities. Dermal fillers can correct asymmetry of the nasal cartilages, minor tip abnormalities and also disguise a noticeable nasal bridge hump.

“This is not a procedure for making noses smaller, but rather for rebalancing. Once the irregularity is corrected the nose will appear smaller, but this is actually an illusion,” says Dr Hkeik.

Ideal candidates are those with nasal depressions, lumps, asymmetries, saddle nose, drooping nose tip, beaky tips. Also patients who need post-surgical corrections.

“Bridge augmentation is also popular with the Asian population,” says Dr Hkeik. “It’s also great for those scared of undergoing surgery, or who can’t afford the downtime associated with surgery.”

There is a broad range of dermal fillers currently available which can be used in nasal deformity correction. There are temporary fillers that last months and also permanent fillers.

After a consultation, an anaesthetic cream is applied, or alternatively, a local anaesthetic block can be given. “The doctor uses a Texta, or eyeliner pencil to mark the areas to be adjusted, and the filler is injected in these areas. “Your new nose is ready within five to 10 minutes,” says Dr Hkeik.

“You can go straight back to work. This compares to rhinoplasty which may have you bruised, bandaged and resting afterwards for up to two weeks after surgery”.

There is minimal pain, and no swelling, but you may have some redness or bruising (laying off the aspirin, alcohol and fish oil supplements for a few days beforehand can minimize the risk of bruising). Expect tenderness for 24 to 48 hours

Typically, a hyaluronic water-based (hydrophilic) filler such as Esthelis or Fortelis, Restalyne or Sub Q, or Juvederm, is used, and can last anywhere from six to 18 months.

If the patient is happy with the result, he or she can return for a permanent filler such as Aquamid, that will last 10-15 years. “I won’t use permanent fillers for a first treatment,” says Dr Hkiek. “I want patients to know whether they will like their new nose and are comfortable with it.”

Semi-permanent fillers range between $889-$1650, depending how much is used. Aquamid costs $1550 for 1ml. Rhinoplasty, on the other hand, may range from $3000 to $15,000.

Of course, there are situations where only rhinoplasty will achieve the desired result.

“Surgery is often the best alternative when there is an underlying bony deformity as might be experienced [after an accident],” says Dr Peter Bakaric of Sydney’s Collagen Face Centre.

“Breathing difficulties are often caused by a deviated nasal septum (either bony of cartilaginous) and this type of corrective procedure can only be achieved by surgical means.”

by Jenni Gilbert

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