The nose is the central feature of the face and plays a pivotal role in determining the overall proportion and balance of your facial appearance, which is why rhinoplasty continues to be one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK. In the 2019 annual survey by the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), the nose job came in sixth for women and first for men, and its appeal shows no sign of waning.

For some patients, however, the idea of going under the knife and permanently altering their dominant facial feature can seems daunting, no matter how much they may wish to improve the shape of their nose. For these people, non-surgical rhinoplasty – also known as the liquid nose job – has proved increasingly popular in recent years.

But is the liquid nose job, using temporary dermal fillers, as good as the real thing? We’ve assessed some of the pros and cons of each procedure.

Surgical rhinoplasty

One of the oldest cosmetic surgery procedures, rhinoplasty is often perceived to be among the most brutal, due to the commonly held belief that the surgeon has to ‘break’ the nose in order to reshape it.

In reality, the procedure is one of the most delicate and nuanced plastic surgery procedures. Depending on what you’re hoping to achieve, Mr Juling Ong can reduce the nose by removing some cartilage or bone, reshape the nose by repositioning or adding to the cartilage or bone, or change the projection of the nose, which is the angle between the nose and the top lip. Mr Ong can also correct any breathing impairment.

There will be some swelling and bruising post procedure, however once that has subsided, you should have the nose you have always dreamt of, permanently.

Surgical rhinoplasty pros:

• highly customisable depending on your needs/wants
• permanent
• not just cosmetic – the surgery can also be beneficial to improve function and structural problems within the nose

Surgical rhinoplasty cons:

• Any surgical procedure carries a risk, which your surgeon will discuss with you at the consultation stage
• More expensive than the non-surgical option – although repeated dermal filler treatments will add up over the time
• Longer recovery time

Non-surgical rhinoplasty (‘the liquid nose job’)

If you’re a bit squeamish about going under the knife, a non-surgical nose job may seem like the perfect answer. And, in the right hands, it does present a very attractive option.

It is important, however, that you choose your practitioner carefully. Mr Juling Ong cautions patients that even though this procedure is deemed non-surgical, it can still carry risks if not performed extremely carefully by an expert with a very good understanding of anatomy.

The liquid nose job is performed by injecting hyaluronic acid facial fillers into the nose to flatten out lumps and bumps, adjust projection volume or enhance the tip of the nose. It is always performed in an outpatient setting, with very little recovery time, and no anaesthetic (apart from a small amount of numbing cream).

The results from a liquid nose job are fairly immediate and can last between six and 12 months.

Non-surgical rhinoplasty pros:

• Little to no recovery time
• Immediate results
• Cheaper than the surgical option

Non-surgical rhinoplasty cons:

• Can be dangerous in the wrong hands
• Results are temporary, so you will need a top-up every six months or so to maintain the look
• There is a limit to what you can achieve – volume can be added non-surgically, but not taken away
• Not able to correct any functional problems

Which nose job is right for you?

If you are merely looking to flatten out a small bump in your nose or enhance the tips, a non-surgical nose job could be a great choice in the first instance. However, over time the top-up treatments could get costly, and there is no guarantee that the result will be exactly the same each time, so you may find that you wish to seek surgery eventually.

For a limited group of patients, the liquid nose job will be very effective, but for most people who wish to see a real, permanent difference in the shape of their nose, surgical rhinoplasty presents the best option. For more advice, call 020 7927 6528 to arrange a consultation with Mr Juling Ong.