Injectable Rhinoplasty Overview
Jump To:
It is very much in vogue today to try to avoid surgery by undergoing injectable treatments with fillers in the nose. Dr. Lam is a master at filler treatments for the entire face and also performs numerous injectable rhinoplasties as well. He does so using a specialized microcannula with a blunt tip to minimize complications and to increase his ability to perform delicate adjustments with his injection. He believes that injectable rhinoplasty is a valuable way of enhancing nasal appearance but has several drawbacks that he tries to articulate to his patients. First, injectable rhinoplasty is ineffective in changing the nasal-tip appearance significantly because the overlying skin is very adherent to the underlying cartilage. It is, however, very good at raising the nasal bridge. Second, if you are seriously considering nose surgery, Dr. Lam prefers not to perform injectable rhinoplasty because repeated injections can compromise the safety of a surgical procedure due to changes in blood flow to the nose. Third, because fillers settle down, the repeated injections can additively exceed the initial cost of rhinoplasty. Fourth, injectable rhinoplasties can only modify the nose minimally when compared with nose surgery and only make the nose larger to make the nose appear smaller through illusion and design. If you understand these limitations well, then Dr. Lam is happy to perform this procedure safely and effectively with a gentle hand and an astute artistic eye.
Benefits
The real benefit of injectable rhinoplasty is being able to achieve an immediate result with very little downtime. Since Dr. Lam uses a cannula to inject the filler, there is oftentimes very little bruising and swelling, although there can be some. Another benefit is that the procedure is relatively low in cost: just the cost of one syringe of filler is enough to fill the nose. In fact, usually less than a syringe is all that is required to make the change. The procedure can also be done in a matter of a few minutes with very little discomfort. Dr. Lam uses a vibratory technique with his hand; and since the cannula passes below the skin, there is no need for numbing. In short, an injectable rhinoplasty costs little, is performed quickly, with little discomfort, with immediate results. In addition, even though Dr. Lam is using “temporary” hyaluronic acid fillers to augment the nose, he has noticed that over time the fillers oftentimes will stay a very long time and many times after a few sessions can be permanent (although he cannot guarantee that). In addition, for the most part, the treatment can be reversed with a hyaluronidase dissolver.
Cons and Limitations
It is important to fully understand the negatives of an injectable rhinoplasty before undertaking the procedure. The real limitation of a filler is that it does not compare to the power and elegance of a surgical rhinoplasty, especially if there is a significant cosmetic problem. For example, instead of straightening a bridge with a large hump, the filler would be used to mask the hump by making the upper dip above the hump less prominent but the nose will still remain big and the hump may not be entirely camouflaged. The real limitation comes in the nasal tip. It is simply very difficult to completely fix the nasal tip with fillers, and in Dr. Lam’s opinion risky when it comes to using large amounts of filler in the nasal tip where despite using a nasal cannula can cause pressure issues on the blood supply and may in rare cases cause necrosis, that is death, to the tissues and a scar. Dr. Lam always exercises judgment, artistic talent, and safety when performing fillers in the nose to achieve the balance of safety and benefit to minimize that risk. Also, he warns of early signs of problems consistent with the risk of necrosis to reverse this problem before it should happen. To emphasize, this is an incredibly rare problem that can usually be managed if caught early enough.
Another con is that after a session of fillers, there will be a little bit of loss of soft-tissue augmentation naturally due to reduction in swelling. Dr. Lam typically will slightly overfill to manage this situation but cannot completely promise that he can offset some of this initial reduction, which usually is not significant and that occurs over the first few weeks to months. Most patients return within 6 months for another treatment that oftentimes can extend to yearly visits or longer if the result begins to hold. Accordingly, the negative aspect of fillers is that the result can fluctuate a bit and require multiple sessions that may be indefinite in the worst case scenario or hopefully not be needed after a few rounds in the best case scenario. Even though the initial cost is relatively low compared with a rhinoplasty, over time, the cost may approach or even exceed the cost of a rhinoplasty if the fillers do not completely stay permanently.
There also is a small risk of migration, which usually can be managed by finger application to adjust the filler. That risk diminishes after 2 to 3 months when the filler is typically more set in place. That is why it is recommended for the first 6 weeks not to apply glasses or sunglasses directly over an area of filling if at all possible. One can still wear glasses earlier on but understands there could be some loss to the result in certain cases.
In general, Dr. Lam does not like to use fillers as a “test” before surgical rhinoplasty for several reasons. First, a filler result really looks nothing like a surgical result and should not be compared. Second, fillers would then need to be dissolved and it is not always easy to completely dissolve fillers. Third, fillers can cause some tissue scarring and accordingly may take more work surgically for Dr. Lam to perform and may result in a longer recovery and maybe in rare cases risk involving tissue compromise. In general, that is not the case with hyaluronic acid but it becomes increasingly riskier with other types of fillers like calcium hydroxyapatite (Radiesse), poly-lactic acid (Sculptra), and poly methyl metacrylate (Bellafill).
A consultation with Dr. Lam will help clarify if you are a good candidate for injectable rhinoplasty along with the pros and cons listed above that Dr. Lam will help tailor to your situation. He will be very responsive to your questions and hopefully address whether an injectable rhinoplasty or traditional surgical rhinoplasty would be preferred for you.
Before and After
How Much Does Injectable Rhinoplasty Cost?
Injectable Rhinoplasty costs a single syringe of filler to perform in almost all cases, as mentioned above. The duration of that syringe is variable and over time in many cases should progressively last longer and in some cases may be permanent. Please contact our office for more information about exactly the cost of one syringe of hyaluronic acid filler.
Unbelievable service, treatment and professionals
READ MORE REVIEWS“What a people, what a doctor, what a nurse, what a staff! Unbelievable service, treatment and professionals.”
Schedule a Consultation
Dr. Sam Lam is a highly skilled and experienced facial aesthetic expert who specializes in injectable rhinoplasty. Recognized as one of the best aesthetic surgeons and injectors in Dallas, Dr. Sam Lam is dedicated to providing the best results Dallas has to offer. Contact Lam Facial Plastics today to schedule a consultation for your injectable rhinoplasty treatment.
