Can You Really Change Your Nose Shape Without Surgery?

Rhinoplasty (also known as a nose job) is a very common cosmetic procedure and one of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures in the United States alone, per Cleveland Clinic. The Guardian writes that many people have opted for plastic surgery, including rhinoplasty procedures, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, finding it easier to undergo the recovery process under the circumstances – such as while working from home or socializing via Zoom.

Understandably, with extensive recovery times and considerable discomfort, if not pain, not everyone wants to go under the knife for the sake of beauty. For those looking for an alternative to the traditional surgical rhinoplasty, there is what's called nonsurgical rhinoplasty. This might come across to some as a miracle solution, but it's important to know what this procedure involves, how it differs from a more traditional nose job, and what you can expect from it if you choose to get it done.

If you're looking for a quick solution to your nose woes, nonsurgical rhinoplasty might be a good option. Cleveland Clinic explains that the procedure involves the use of dermal fillers beneath the skin, similar to cheek or lip fillers. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is better for some cosmetic concerns than others, however, because nonsurgical rhinoplasty can't make a person's nose smaller via fillers.

What a nonsurgical rhinoplasty can do is address cosmetic issues including bumps, or improve the overall nose appearance with some slight straightening. More drastic changes are better left to surgical procedures, and Healthline highlights the pros and cons of both forms of treatment. For example, surgical rhinoplasty can correct medical issues that cannot be corrected with nonsurgical rhinoplasty, and it can be combined with other surgical procedures. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty is much faster, though, because it takes only a matter of minutes to perform, and the recovery time is much quicker.

Because it uses dermal fillers, the changes made with nonsurgical rhinoplasty won't be permanent. That said, WebMD reports that the results are immediate, unlike the dressings involved in surgical rhinoplasty. You can expect the results of a nonsurgical rhinoplasty procedure to last for 6 to 12 months, which is ideal if you aren't sure that you want to change your nose for good. A nonsurgical rhinoplasty is also easy to reverse. If, for whatever reason, you don't want to keep your new nose for the next 6 months, the filler can be dissolved. 

Either way, you will have to get the procedure redone if you want to maintain the same look over time, which may or may not be a hassle depending on your personal circumstances and finances. Healthline additionally cautions that the costs of multiple sessions of nonsurgical rhinoplasty are likely to add up, whereas this shouldn't be the case for surgical rhinoplasty.