With every major development in plastic surgery, there follows a flood of products that promise the same results for less effort and money. The “nose job” is no exception. But can you change the shape of your nose without surgery? While rhinoplasty surgeries at our Chicago practice are more effective than ever, “nose shaper” knockoff products continue to crop up, claiming to shape slimmer, more lifted noses with plastic clips, discs, and hooks.
In this blog, we’ll examine a few of the most talked-about rhinoplasty alternatives and explain why nothing compares to the long-term transformation of surgical rhinoplasty.
Nose Discs
You may be tempted by ads touting a “DIY nose job” at home—but buyer beware! While nose discs promise to save you time and money, they don’t offer the safe, proven results of rhinoplasty surgery. In fact, inserting nose discs into your nostrils does more harm than good. While you may see some temporary, minor improvement in your nasal shape, nose discs often cause discomfort and may even wreak havoc on the interior lining of your nose.
Nose Lifters
This product consists of multiple plastic hooks that are inserted into each nostril. The tool pushes up the tip of the nose and appears to lift it, changing what the nose looks like from a profile view. Nose lifters may provide a short-term improvement, but, similar to nose discs, these hooks compromise the structure of the nose and put pressure on the cartilage framework, which could lead to long-term distortion and harm. In addition, the hooks are small enough that they may be accidentally inhaled and become lodged in the nasal cavity. The potential risk isn’t worth the temporary benefits nose lifters provide.
Nose Shaper Clips
A nose shaper clip claims to be a nonsurgical solution for people seeking narrower, more defined noses. Each clip attaches to the bridge or tip of the nose and pinches it in an attempt to create a slimmer appearance. Many people have tried these and posted their reviews on YouTube, and the consensus is clear: they don’t even work in the moment, let alone long-term.
Dermal Fillers & BOTOX Nose Lift
The nonsurgical nose job, often referred to as liquid rhinoplasty, is quickly gaining popularity, and it’s easy to understand the appeal of achieving an ideal nose through fillers alone. However, this approach comes with several drawbacks, which I explored in a recent blog post on the reality of nonsurgical rhinoplasty. Ultimately, your results are temporary, upkeep can be expensive, and it does not address every aesthetic need. In addition, long term use of fillers can result in scarring underneath the skin that can leave subtle irregularities that can’t be corrected.
Similarly, using BOTOX® Cosmetic to lift the nose tip (aka, a nose lift) provides temporary and less dramatic results. Despite the initial allure of injectables, they simply cannot deliver the lasting, customizable transformation of surgical rhinoplasty, which is truly the gold standard for achieving ideal nasal contours.
Surgical Rhinoplasty
During a surgical rhinoplasty, our board-certified plastic surgeons narrow the nose by addressing all structures that contribute to width, including the bony upper third of the nose and the middle vault (upper lateral cartilages and tip cartilages). The nose can be narrowed without changing the profile at all. Lifting the nose can be done by shaving the distal end of the septum and removing some soft tissue. In many cases, that is a minor procedure and can be done in the office with no visible sutures, minimal swelling, and only a day or 2 of downtime.
Having performed thousands of nose procedures to date, our rhinoplasty specialists use their vast expertise to help each patient achieve their unique aesthetic goals. Even though surgical rhinoplasty requires a greater investment of time and money than nonsurgical options—and gimmicky products—the benefits are clear. Surgery can fully address each of your concerns to create a result that is ideal for you and will last for years, if not for a lifetime.
To see real patient examples of a rhinoplasty transformation, visit our before-and-after photo gallery.
If you’re interested in learning more about rhinoplasty in Chicago, please contact us online or call us at (312) 788-2560 to schedule a consultation.
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