The nose is the central point of the face. Therefore, the appearance of the nose makes a dramatic difference to our overall facial appearance and, consequently, our confidence. Accordingly, it comes as little surprise that many of us are critical of this feature, complaining that our noses are too big, too small, crooked, bumpy, drooping. The list goes on.
Many of us know all too well the disastrous consequence feeling self-conscious of our noses can have, disliking what you see in the mirror and almost all photographs taken of you.
Is there anything that can be done to combat this insecurity and give you a little more confidence?
Surgical Rhinoplasty
Should the appearance of your nose be a huge cause for concern for yourself, you may well have investigated the prospect of surgical rhinoplasty. Still the most common form of plastic surgery, this surgical procedure will permanently alter the appearance of your nose.
However, a surgical rhinoplasty is not without its downsides. According to estimates, severe or life-threatening complications occur with a surgical rhinoplasty in 1.7-5% of all cases. You would be undergoing anaesthesia, which means you are put in a state of controlled unconsciousness by your surgeon. Anaesthesia can result in complications such as anaphylaxis, meaning a severe allergic reaction, you may wake up during the operation, or in severe cases, it can result in death.
Other complications from a surgical rhinoplasty include breathing problems, skin numbness, infection, developing a hole in the nasal septum or scarring, among others. In addition, a surgical rhinoplasty is permanent. This means that if you’re not satisfied with your results, it is not possible to reverse them. You would then be forced to undergo an expensive revision rhinoplasty procedure, again running the risk of not being happy with the appearance after surgery. 5-15% of surgical rhinoplasty cases will result in a revision surgery.
Along with the risks associated with a surgical procedure discussed above, they are incredibly expensive, costing up to £12,000 in the U.K. In addition, you will not see your results until a year are surgery, being the time it takes to fully heal from the operation. During this year, you will experience severe swelling and bruising around your whole face.
Are there any other options available which are lower risk?
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
A non-surgical rhinoplasty is an aesthetic treatment which uses dermal filler to temporarily alter the appearance of the nose. The dermal filler can be placed along the bridge of the nose to straighten out any abnormalities and disguise the appearance of bumps, leaving you with a perfectly straight nose. In addition, dependent on personal preference, we can place dermal filler into the tip of the nose to create a feminine sloped nose.
Our client are often extremely surprised how much of a difference a non-surgical rhinoplasty can make to the appearance of the nose. In just 20 minutes, we can completely transform the appearance of your nose, increasing your confidence tenfold!
What is the treatment process like?
The first stage of your treatment will involve a consultation to gain a better understanding of any concerns you are hoping to address and the look you would like to achieve. This may include wishing to disguise any bumps in the nose, make the nose appear straighter and/ or lifting the nose to create a slope.
The next stage will involve applying numbing cream to the nose. Only when you are completely numb do we begin to administer the treatment to ensure you are completely comfortable. We will then start to inject dermal filler into the bridge and tip of the nose to create the desired result, as discussed in your consultation.
Following this, we will then discuss with you in-depth any aftercare required for a non-surgical rhinoplasty.
This includes:
- No makeup on the area treated for 48 hours
- No strenuous exercise for 48 hours
- No extreme hot or cold temperatures for 48 hours
- No saunas, steam rooms or sunbeds for 48 hours
- Not massaging the area treated
- Taking an antihistamine to reduce swelling
- Taking Arnica tablets to reduce bruising
Is there any downtime?
Unlike a surgical rhinoplasty, a non-surgical rhinoplasty involves minimal downtime. Following treatment, you may experience minimal swelling and bruising on the area treated for up to two weeks, although most clients will find they are fully healed a few days after afterwards, with no indication of having had any treatment.
Are there any risks?
Any aesthetic procedure involves an element of risk. There are two arteries which run either side of the nose, which would cause injury should they be injected. At Second Look Aesthetics, we perform this treatment with aspiration to ensure the injection placement is safe.
The element of risk involved is why it is incredibly important to do your research and ensure your practitioner is extremely knowledgeable in anatomy and experienced in administering this treatment. You should ensure they are trained in both recognising and managing complications, so that you are in safe hands should they arise.
In the hands of a well-trained practitioner, a non-surgical rhinoplasty is low risk, particularly when compared with a surgical rhinoplasty. You will not undergo any anaesthesia and be put to sleep, while the results are only temporary.
This means that, should you not be satisfied with your results, you can dissolve the dermal filler to return to your old nose, or wait for the filler to naturally dissolve itself, which takes around 9-12 months.
