Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty with Radiesse

Before

After

Before

After

Over the last few years, there has been a significant growth in the field of non-surgical correction of the aging face.  From Botox injections for the lines and wrinkles, to dermal fillers (such as Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse and Sculptra) for areas of facial hollowness and laugh lines, these techniques are attractive because they involve no surgery, have minimal down time and oftentimes are less costly then “real” surgery.  The down side to these non-surgical injections is that they usually last for only a limited amount of time, depending on the type of dermal filler injected.

As I mentioned above, these techniques are usually dedicated to the correction of the aging face.  But some can be used to enhance the facial features.  Radiesse, in particular is a popular product used to enhance the nose and other facial features.  Radiesse is favored for non-surgical rhinoplasty (nose surgery) because of its chemical structure and its biological behavior.  Radiesse is made of calcium hydroxyapatite particles, which has similar chemical characteristics of human bones.  The results can last for 1 year of more.  It is one of the longer lasting products available on the market at this time.  Due to Radiesse’s chemical structure, it provides more tissue support, which makes it the optimal product to use in non-surgical enhancement of the nose.

Radiesse is usually used to enhance 2 areas of the nose, the bridge and the nasal tip.  In patients with the appropriate skin thickness, the injection can significantly elevate the bridge and refine the nasal tip to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

It is a misconceived notion that this type of injection is like any other type of injection and can be performed equally well by all physicians.  It is imperative that the physician performing the injection has significant experience in injection techniques, as well as experience in performing surgical rhinoplasty in order to optimize the result for the patient.  The physicians with surgical experience will be able to inject the Radiesse into the areas that they usually would surgically enhance in a “real” rhinoplasty.  The surgical experience also would allow the surgeon to have greater anatomical insight into the appropriate level where the material should be placed.  The patients should imagine non-surgical rhinoplasty as recontouring of their nose albeit temporary.

Non-surgical rhinoplasty technique is optimal in individuals who may desire “real” rhinoplasty in the future but does not want to make the leap to a surgical rhinoplasty just yet.  It is also appropriate in those who would like temporary improvement for up coming events but do not want the down time of surgery.  But like Cinderella who returned to her old self at the stroke of midnight, once the 12 months duration of the product lapses, the patient’s nose will return back to its original contour.