Non-Surgical Nose Job vs. Surgical Rhinoplasty

Front and center on your face, if you’re not happy with your nose, it can be pretty hard to hide. Up until recently, undergoing rhinoplasty to get a nose job was one of the only ways to get a nose that better suited your face. Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves removing bone or cartilage, or adding tissue, which certainly isn’t something everyone is willing to undergo. That’s where non-surgical nose jobs have gained popularity. This is a treatment that involves the use of fillers to reshape the nose.

Knowing the difference between procedures will help you decide which one is the right one for your nose. Factors such as down time and permanence are two of the major variables between the different procedures and help to lead patients towards the treatment that will best fit in with their life.

What does the procedure entail?

Non-Surgical: The procedure is simple to receive a non-surgical nose job, as it is simply an injection of filler into the desired area of the nose. It typically takes only fifteen minutes to receive the injection, following a consultation with your Toronto plastic surgeon to discuss the procedure. After that, you’re able to carry on with your day as if nothing had happened.

Surgical Rhinoplasty: Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that involves making incisions, typically inside the nostrils to prevent scarring, to reshape the nose. The tissue is rearranged during the procedure and is supported with a splint following the completion of the surgery. Typically, it is an outpatient surgery, though sometimes patients may spend a night in the hospital. Depending on the extent of the surgery, it can take from one to four hours.

What is the down time like following the procedure?

Non-Surgical: There is no down time following an injection to the nose, though in some cases patients have minor swelling. You’re able to return to work or your normal routine immediately following the procedure.

Surgical Rhinoplasty Following the surgery, your nose will be swollen and bruised for up to two weeks. The bandaging is removed after about a week. During this time it is important to keep the head elevated and still. Strenuous activities should be avoided for several weeks following the surgery until the nose is completely heals.

When will I see results?

Non-Surgical: Results are visible immediately following a non-surgical nose job. If you have any swelling, you’ll see your final results after the swelling goes down, typically within a week or so. It is a great solution for people who want instant results.

Surgical Rhinoplasty: Swelling goes down typically by three weeks for most area of the nose. The tip can hold swelling longer than the rest of the nose, and typically by six months you’ll have a good idea about what your final product will look like, and can ultimately take up to two years.

How long do the effects last?

Non-Surgical: Using fillers is a temporary way to change your nose and can last from six months to just over a year, depending on skin type and fillers used.

Surgical Rhinoplasty As long as the nose has fully developed, the results will be permanent and there should be no changes once the healing is complete. It is a permanent solution, as the nose is restructured following a surgery.