With increased interest and use of compounds used to fill in facial wrinkles and depression, it was inevitable that such techniques would finally be applied to augmentation rhinoplasty. While the history of nasal injection with earlier products was disastrous, modern fillers are designed to be more bio-compatible if used properly.

Most commonly, non-surgical, or petite, rhinoplasty entails injection using one of the longer-lasting filler materials like Radiesse ® (calcium hydroxyapatite) or permanent fillers like ArteFill ® (polymethylmethacrylate beads within a collagen suspension) to slightly elevate the nasal tip, build up the flattened nasal dorsum, and smooth out mild depressions and bumps.

Treatment and recovery are much faster than with invasive surgery, but results are usually less than amazing and fleeting (sometimes a matter of months) while recurring costs can be very high.

While simple, such treatments come with definite risks, including acute and chronic granulomas, infection, pain, ongoing swelling or redness, and permanent skin deformity, scarring, or contracture.

Especially if injected too superficially, the skin of the nose may become red, lumpy, and, in some cases, so damaged and thinned that surgical removal is too risky. While such problems are more common with the long-lasting fillers, they may even occur with shorter acting hyaluronic acid preparations.

Nasal contouring can also be done by injection of one's own fat obtained by liposuction, but the results and longevity are not at all on a par with actual rhinoplasty surgery.

Many surgeons "pushing" injectables as an alternative to surgical rhinoplasty are neither nose specialists nor maxillofacial plastic surgeons but rather dermatologists or other "non-core" generalists looking to enlarge the scope of their cosmetic practices.

Update: Injectable Fillers Not Recommended as First-Line Option in Nasal Reshaping