Surgical Rhinoplasty vs. Liquid Rhinoplasty

March 29, 2024

If you are considering rhinoplasty in Vancouver, it’s important to consider all your options. At Pacific Plastic Surgery Group, we offer surgical and non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures that can be tailored to each of our patient’s needs.

What is Surgical Rhinoplasty?

Surgical rhinoplasty is a procedure that enhances the size and/or shape of the nose. Various techniques such as open or closed rhinoplasty may be used, depending on the condition being treated. Although rhinoplasty mainly serves as a cosmetic procedure, functional rhinoplasty techniques can also be included to repair deviations in the nose and open up the airways for improved breathing.

What is Liquid Rhinoplasty?

Liquid rhinoplasty is a non-surgical procedure that uses hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to enhance the shape of the nose and create more symmetry. Since hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, this is a safe and effective procedure for almost all patients. The liquid rhinoplasty procedure takes less than thirty minutes and can be performed comfortably without any anesthesia.

Which is Right for You?

We understand that each person has different goals for their surgery and desired results. These are some of the main factors to consider and differences between liquid rhinoplasty and traditional rhinoplasty surgery:

Conditions Treated

Liquid rhinoplasty is mainly used to subtly alter the shape of the nose. It can often improve the look of a dorsal hump, downturned nasal tip, or minor asymmetry. Since surgical rhinoplasty is more invasive, it can treat more significant concerns, including medical conditions like a deviated septum. If you wish to reduce the size of the nose or reconstruct a crooked nose, surgery might be the better option.

Recovery Time

A liquid rhinoplasty requires little to no downtime, while surgical rhinoplasty patients often need two weeks of rest and recovery before returning to work. After surgery, swelling and bruising will take several months to completely reduce, so your results will develop gradually. A liquid rhinoplasty creates minimal swelling and the filler will provide immediate results.

Treatment Goals

Downtime, cost, and the longevity of results are all factors to consider when determining whether surgery is the right option. Although more significant downtime is needed after a surgical rhinoplasty, the results are permanent. However, the results of a liquid rhinoplasty last a considerable amount of time; typically 12-18 months. Results can be easily touched up with additional appointments.

Surgical Candidacy

Not every patient is a good candidate for surgery, which makes liquid rhinoplasty a great alternative. If you have significant underlying health conditions like a history of scarring, bleeding disorders, or a heart condition. Teenagers who are considering rhinoplasty must wait until the nose is completely grown before receiving surgery. If you don’t fit the criteria for a surgical rhinoplasty, the liquid rhinoplasty will likely be your best option.

Schedule a Consultation

If you’re unsure whether you want a surgical or non-surgical rhinoplasty, our experienced team of plastic surgeons will be happy to discuss both your options. Schedule a consultation today at Pacific Plastic Surgery Group in Vancouver, BC, to get started on your personalized treatment plan.