The nose is the central and most prominent feature on the face. Because of that, it plays a large role on your overall appearance. While surgical rhinoplasty (aka nosejob) remains the gold standard and most effective way to change the appearance of the nose permanently, it carries with it recovery from a surgical procedure. A Washington DC nonsurgical rhinoplasty can be a quick procedure performed in the office to transform the nose and resolve unwanted bumps, nasal asymmetries, and droopy tips without the risk and recovery of a standard rhinoplasty procedure. Dr. Michael Somenek is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who is an expert at rhinoplasty procedures. He routinely lectures worldwide discussing his techniques for nonsurgical rhinoplasty. He believes that only someone with an in-depth understanding should be injecting the nose due to the complex nasal anatomy and overall safety for the patient. Dr. Somenek will typically recommend a hyaluronic acid filler to be used in the nose, such as Restylane or Juvederm.
A Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is an injection procedure using dermal filler to augment certain regions of the nose. It can be used to camouflage a hump on the profile or other imperfections that are seen throughout the nose. It can also be useful in someone who has had a previous rhinoplasty and would like to address certain imperfections that don’t necessarily require a revision surgical procedure.
Dr. Somenek will first perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. He will then place numbing cream on the nose for topical anesthesia. The nasal skin is then cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Dr. Somenek then uses a hyaluronic acid filler to gradually and precisely address the problem areas of the nose including the profile and other irregularities that are noted during examination. There is usually minimal pain and little risk of bruising and swelling. The procedure takes less than 15 minutes and will leave you with a straighter, better defined, more symmetric, and more proportional nose.
Radiesse is a reliable and safe dermal filler that is composed of calcium hydroxyapatite. It is temporary and has a similar longevity to hyaluronic acid. It is not reversible, but it is thicker than any other filler and Dr. Somenek uses it to lift tips or raise bridges that cannot be lifted or raised with hyaluronic fillers. During your comprehensive consultation, you will decide with Dr. Somenek which filler is the one for you. None of these fillers require allergy testing and they will not migrate or lump up within the tissues. They become integrated into the tissues and create soft contours throughout the nose. These fillers will eventually become broken down and resorbed by the body over time.
While there are other dermal fillers available on the market, Dr. Somenek does not recommend using these in a local nonsurgical rhinoplasty. One of the products is Bellafill, which is a semi-permanent product containing PMMA(Poly Methyl Methacrylate) that Dr. Somenek uses in other areas of the face. The main reason that Dr. Somenek does not support injecting this product in the nose is that, as a rhinoplasty specialist, he believes that if the patient decides to undergo a surgical rhinoplasty at a later point that this increases their risk of complications and infection postoperatively. Bellafill does require skin testing to ensure that you don’t have a sensitivity to the bovine collagen within the product.
Most of the fillers that are used have been shown to last around 8-12 months. However, the filler will gradually resorb over time and the dorsal hump may become more noticeable. This may require additional filler even though some filler may still be present
Dr. Somenek will determine how much filler is still present in the nose. If a hyaluronic acid filler was used, Dr. Somenek will inject hyaluronidase which can dissolve the dermal filler completely. This will restore the contours and appearance of the nose prior to your surgical procedure to ensure you get an optimal result.
Like any injectable procedure, there are risks associated with a nonsurgical rhinoplasty. Bleeding, infection, and bruising are the most common. Dr. Somenek is an expert rhinoplasty specialist that understands the nasal anatomy and has treated hundreds of noses with this procedure. It is extremely important to have an injector with a complete understanding of the nose to minimize additional complications associated with a nonsurgical rhinoplasty.
A nonsurgical rhinoplasty is most useful for concealing irregularities throughout the nose such as a dorsal hump or minor tip asymmetries. However, it cannot narrow the nasal bones or the nostrils, both of which require a surgical treatment. If you would like to learn more about a surgical rhinoplasty, continue to Dr. Somenek’s Rhinoplasty page.
Hyaluronic acid is the recommended dermal filler for the nose. When this is injected, it attracts water and can transiently cause a small amount of swelling to the nose. Dr. Somenek provides a comprehensive checklist to follow which will minimize the overall amount of swelling after your nonsurgical rhinoplasty.
If you have further questions regarding Revision Rhinoplasty, please call or contact our Washington DC office today to schedule your initial consultation.
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