In the past few years, there has been an upsurge in the demand for non-surgical rhinoplasty or, as some call it, liquid rhinoplasty or liquid nose job. This cosmetic treatment involves the injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) filler into the nose to temporarily tweak its shape.
You have probably seen numerous before and after pictures on social media. - Some results are so good that you could easily mistake them for the results of a classic nose job. But before you jump in and book your first appointment, let us shed a little more light on this treatment. While we at Dr Aesthetica are big proponents of liquid rhinoplasty (in fact, it's one of our most popular treatments), we care even more about educating our patients.
In this article, we want to talk about complications with fillers, especially with non-surgical rhinoplasty and how you can get a liquid nose job safely.
Why You Need To Be More Cautious
Liquid rhinoplasty, as often portrayed on social media, seems like a quick and easy treatment - but it's not a procedure to be taken lightly. Complications can occur and are even on the rise as more and more injectors with questionable qualifications start to offer the treatment.
This is a concern both here in Birmingham and around the world. Too many people are entrusting their faces to untrained practitioners injecting without certification in medical aesthetics or even a basic understanding of human nasal anatomy.
As a medical doctor and trained aesthetician, I perform non-surgical nose jobs very frequently. I know and respect the intricate anatomy of the face and its complexity. Therefore, it always worries me when I see someone who's not well versed in the intricacies of this procedure carelessly injecting a patient's nose.
It can be very risky if you don't know what you're doing. I know of cases where patients have lost the tips of their noses following misplaced needle pokes by inexperienced injectors!
Are Non-Surgical Nose Jobs Risky?
A common concern is the complication of vascular occlusion, which occurs when the filler obstructs blood flow through a critical end artery, either by entering the artery directly and causing a blockage or by compressing the artery from the outside, pinching it off and stopping blood flow.
An end artery is the sole supplier of oxygenated blood to a particular area. The end arteries in the nose include those that supply the retina of the eye. Blockage of these arteries can lead to blindness. Alternatively, blockage of the arteries that supply the skin around the tip of the nose and the nostrils could deprive the skin of nutrients and oxygen, leading to tissue death.
Does this mean that liquid rhinoplasty is a risky procedure? The answer is: it depends.
Here's the thing.
To cause real, permanent skin damage, the signs of vascular compromise-which usually occur within 60 seconds of the injection- would have to be completely ignored and left untreated for 12 hours or more. Essentially it would likely be a combination of poor injection technique and possible negligence.
However, in the hands of a trained and experienced injector who is familiar with facial anatomy, a liquid nose job poses minimal risk to the patient.
The emphasis is on "in the right hands".
How To Get a Liquid Nose Job Safely
- The safest place to inject dermal fillers is along the bridge of the nose, away from the arteries. Another important safety measure is to inject deep below the vessels.
- As tempting as it might be, permanent fillers should never be used. In the event of a complication, little can be done to rectify the situation.
- In case of complications like pain, discolouration and blanching of the skin, you should consult a doctor immediately. If the complication is caught early, it can be reversed with hyaluronidase. (Hyaluronidase, an injectable enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid, however, only works with HA-based fillers).
- Discuss all potential risks with your doctor before the procedure and make sure he or she only uses hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers and has hyaluronidase in stock at their premises in case the procedure goes wrong.
- Exactly the same risks exist when injecting fillers into other parts of the face, including the tear troughs and cheeks. This is certainly a sobering fact, one that underscores the importance of seeing a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon or aesthetic doctor for any cosmetic injection.
Related: Guide to Dermal Fillers Use in Liquid Rhinoplasty
Final Thoughts
Whether this post has made you change your mind about a liquid nose job, or given you the answers you needed and eased any concerns you had, we are just glad you are now better informed about how to get a liquid nose job safely.
If you are considering this treatment, we would love to talk to you. We are a leading medical aesthetics clinic in Birmingham and pride ourselves on offering non-surgical cosmetic treatments that put the safety of our patients first. We mean business! Find out more about our clinic Dr Aesthetica clinic here.
