No skin off your NOSE!

Non-surgical rhinoplasty is a medical procedure in which injectable fillers, most commonly hyaluronic-acid ones, like Restylane and Juvederm are used to alter and shape a person’s nose without invasive surgery. Because the nose is the anchor-feature of the face, an aesthetically proportionate nose balances the physiognomic features of a person. The procedure is usually performed for aesthetic purposes, and can also be used to correct some birth defects. The procedure is not intended to replace a surgical one, and is not meant to decrease nose size, although it can make the nose appear smaller by making it look straighter. It is frequently used to increase the height and definition of the nasal bridge, as well as augmenting other precisely defined areas of the nose. Non-surgical rhinoplasty can correct minor deformities such as a saddle nose, prominent humps and issues with proportion, and can be useful as an adjunct to a surgical procedure.

Blake Lively and Jennifer Anderson are few who have undergone such non-invasive procedures.

The Procedure: The preferred anesthesia for non-surgical rhinoplasty is a topical cream (topical anesthesia). The physician uses a sterile syringe, pre-packaged with a filler and hypodermic needle to inject material under the nasal skin, most commonly in the deep subcutaneous tissues.

The procedure for injecting and placing the soft-tissue filler typically take 10 to 30 minutes to perform in the surgeon’s consultation room, after an initial 15 minutes of numbing. After the procedure, the patient can typically resume normal life immediately.

Do’s and Dont’s: It’s important to know what you would  like to address, choose the correct filler and have realistic expectations. Avoid blood thinners, alcohol, aspirin, Vitamin E etc for a day prior to, and two days after the treatment. Do not wear eyeglasses for four four weeks following your nose enhancement. Do not choose a filler provider based on price. Dermal fillers must be administered only by trained and licensed professionals, otherwise, you may end up with a botched procedure that may ruin your face instead of improving it. Do not squeeze, massage or pinch the treated areas immediately after the procedure. Do not take cigarettes or controlled substances immediately after the procedure.

Price: The price depends on the patient’s requirement. Usually it would be Rs 25,000-Rs 28,000 per syringe.

— The writer is a cosmetic surgeon. Disclaimer: Always check with a cosmetic surgeon before going ahead with this procedure.