If you are considering a rhinoplasty but aren’t sure what your options are, this explanation of liquid versus traditional rhinoplasty can help shine a light on the differences.
Up until recently, there weren’t many options for patients unhappy with the look or size of their nose. Surgical rhinoplasty (otherwise known as a “nose job”) was the way to go. Though very effective at helping patients reach their ideal image, rhinoplasties have their drawbacks. For example, they can often be outside of the patient’s budget. They also come with some downtime, something that’s difficult to find in this day and age. But thankfully in recent years some new options have debuted in the medical world, and they are helping patients get the look of a rhinoplasty without the cost or the recovery period.
“It’s called a liquid rhinoplasty, and it can help reshape the nose without surgery,” says Dallas, Texas-based cosmetic surgeon Dr. Randy Sanovich. Sanovich performs liquid rhinoplasties in his clinic and says they are a faster and more affordable alternative to the traditional rhinoplasty.
“Liquid rhinoplasties use hyaluronic acid to fill in the nose,” he says. “You aren’t making the nose smaller, but in the case of people who have a bump or aren’t happy with the tip of their nose, they can temporarily camouflage these features by plumping up those areas of the nose.”
Another bonus to nonsurgical rhinoplasties is the recovery time. While a traditional rhinoplasty requires general anesthetic, temporary splints, stitches and about a week of recuperation, non-surgical liquid rhinoplasties do not. Patients can return to daily life immediately following a liquid rhinoplasty, and the results are visible immediately, while it can take up to a year to see the results of a traditional, surgical rhinoplasty.
While there may be some side effects to liquid rhinoplasties – Sanovich says there can be some bruising or swelling that subsides within several days of the procedure, as there is no incision to heal or stitches to remove.
As for the cost, the liquid rhinoplasty costs significantly less than traditional rhinoplasty. The drawback here is that the liquid rhinoplasty will need to be redone, so you’ll have to pay up for any subsequent procedure. Sanovich says some people opt to have a traditional rhinoplasty after their liquid rhinoplasty because they are so happy with the results, they want to make them permanent.
“A liquid rhinoplasty can give you a good preview of what you’d look like following a traditional rhinoplasty,” he says.
As for how long the results of a liquid rhinoplasty last, that depends on the individual patient; however, Sanovich says patients can expect the results to last about 10 to 12 months on average.
“Liquid rhinoplasties are an excellent solution for patients who would like to change the appearance of their nose without committing to a traditional rhinoplasty,” he says. “They give beautiful, natural-looking results, and if there’s something the patient doesn’t like about their results, it’s not permanent and we can adjust the levels of hyaluronic acid to correct them going forward.”
Interested in a consultation with double board-certified Dr. Randy Sanovich? Call or email our office today to get scheduled!
(972) 914-3660 // info@dsa.live