Whether for cosmetic enhancement or functional improvement, traditional rhinoplasty surgery offers a solution for people who want to improve their noses’ shape, size, or breathing ability. Advancements in medical aesthetics have also introduced an alternative called a liquid rhinoplasty, also known as a non-surgical nose job. These two techniques each offer unique benefits and drawbacks. While traditional rhinoplasty can and often does address functional issues with an individual’s nasal airway passage, this blog will solely focus on the cosmetic benefits available at Faces, PLLC.
Dr. J. Randall Jordan, a leading plastic surgeon, and Miriam Shufelt, a certified nurse injector in the Jackson, MS, metro area, specialize in traditional and liquid rhinoplasty, respectively, providing their patients with personalized solutions tailored to their aesthetic goals and facial harmony. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you decide which rhinoplasty method might be better for your needs.
What Is Surgical Rhinoplasty?
Dr. Jordan can reshape bone, cartilage, and sometimes tissue with conventional rhinoplasty techniques. This surgery can address cosmetic concerns like size, shape, and symmetry.
Hallmarks of rhinoplasty surgery include the following.
- Invasive procedure: Traditional rhinoplasty is a surgical intervention, typically performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Jordan will make tiny incisions inside or outside your nose to reshape and reposition the bone and cartilage to achieve the desired outcome.
- Permanent results: Unlike non-surgical options, the results from traditional rhinoplasty are long-lasting. Once Dr. Jordan alters your nasal structure, the changes will remain for a lifetime unless you seek revision surgery.
- Customization and precision: Traditional rhinoplasty allows for precise alterations, making it ideal for patients seeking significant changes.
- Downtime and recovery: Surgical rhinoplasty typically requires a longer recovery period. You can expect bruising, swelling, and discomfort for a few weeks after the surgery. Full results may take up to a year to become visible as the swelling subsides completely.
- Risks: All surgical procedures carry some form of risk- with rhinoplasty, the major risk is the need for revision surgery, which occurs in 5-10 % of patients.
Ideal Candidates for Traditional Rhinoplasty
This procedure is suitable for patients who want to make extensive changes.
- Dramatically alter their nose’s shape or size
- Correct a crooked or disproportionate nose
- Repair a nasal injury or trauma
- Improve their facial harmony
What Is Liquid Rhinoplasty?
Liquid rhinoplasty, also known as non-surgical rhinoplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses injectable dermal fillers to enhance nasal shape and contour. This technique has gained popularity due to its quick results and minimal downtime, making it an appealing option for people who are not ready to commit to surgery.
Noteworthy characteristics of a liquid rhinoplasty include the following.
- Non-invasive procedure: Unlike traditional rhinoplasty, liquid rhinoplasty does not involve incisions or anesthesia. Instead, Dr. Jordan and Miriam Shufelt will use dermal fillers to add volume, conceal bumps, or enhance your nasal bridge.
- Temporary results: A liquid rhinoplasty typically lasts between nine and 18 months, depending on the filler formulation used and how quickly your body metabolizes it. You may need regular touch-ups to maintain your desired look.
- Fits into almost any schedule: The average liquid rhinoplasty appointment takes 30 minutes or less, making it an excellent choice for busy people. Most patients experience little to no recovery time and can return to their routine immediately after the procedure.
- Subtle changes: While liquid rhinoplasty can make noticeable improvements to your appearance, it is better for creating minor cosmetic enhancements – not dramatic structural changes. It cannot make your nose smaller or correct functional issues. Certain things cannot be improved with liquid rhinoplasty, such as a large hump or a wide tip.
- Reversibility: In the rare event that you are unhappy with your results, our providers can dissolve hyaluronic acid-based fillers with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, effectively reversing the procedure.
- Risks: All procedures carry some risks, and liquid rhinoplasty is no different. There is risk of bruising, swelling, infection, and rarely, damage to blood supply and skin loss requiring surgical repair.
Assessing Your Candidacy for Liquid Rhinoplasty
Liquid rhinoplasty is best for people looking for minor cosmetic changes or those who want to test the waters before committing to a traditional surgical procedure. You may want to consider non-surgical rhinoplasty to:
- Camouflage or disguise a moderate nasal hump
- Lift or define your nasal tip
- Enhance the appearance of your nasal bridge
- Avoid surgery or a lengthy recovery period
The Benefits of Traditional Rhinoplasty
Consider traditional rhinoplasty if you seek substantial aesthetic changes .
- Comprehensive reshaping: Traditional rhinoplasty can address almost any aesthetic or structural issue, providing a solution for more complex concerns. Whether it’s reducing a hump, narrowing the nasal tip or reducing the size of the nostrils, the possibilities are vast.
- Long-lasting results: Since Dr. Jordan changes the bone and cartilage, the results from traditional rhinoplasty are permanent, providing a lifetime of improvement without the need for touch-ups.
Reasons to Consider Liquid Rhinoplasty
Liquid rhinoplasty offers several appealing benefits for those who want to make minor adjustments without undergoing surgery.
- Quick and convenient: The in-office procedure is brief with no need for recovery time, making it an outstanding option for people with busy lifestyles.
- No commitment: Liquid rhinoplasty provides an opportunity to “test-drive” changes without investing in invasive surgery. If you feel dissatisfied, you can ask to adjust or dissolve your filler.
- Subtle enhancements: If you want a modest improvement to your appearance, liquid rhinoplasty can deliver the desired results without the need for invasive surgery.
How to Choose What Fits Your Needs
Either option can be an excellent solution for enhancing your appearance, so the choice between traditional and liquid rhinoplasty ultimately depends on your cosmetic goals, desired changes, and your comfort level with surgery.
Dr. Jordan and Miriam Shufelt, FNP-C, offer detailed consultations and expert advice to help you determine which approach will meet your needs better.
- Pick traditional rhinoplasty if you desire a permanent solution or need to correct a structural deformity.
- Choose liquid rhinoplasty if you’re seeking a quick, non-invasive way to improve your appearance with subtle, temporary results.
The experts at Faces, PLLC provide the skill and attention to detail to help you achieve your aesthetic objectives, whether you’re aiming for significant, permanent changes or a more subtle, temporary improvement. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.