A recent study suggests that nonsurgical rhinoplasty, involving hyaluronic acid-based filler injections, may offer a comparable alternative to traditional surgical rhinoplasty. The research, led by Dr. Kalpna K. Durairaj of Huntington Hospital, indicates a growing trend away from surgical procedures, with the rise in popularity of minimally invasive alternatives providing similar results at a lower cost and with reduced downtime.
Surgical rhinoplasty has long been considered the gold standard for nasal reshaping, but the number of procedures performed has seen a decline, reaching 726,000 globally in 2018. The alternative, liquid or injection rhinoplasty, employs hyaluronic acid-based fillers. To assess patient satisfaction and experiences with this nonsurgical technique, the researchers conducted a retrospective analysis involving 56 patients, with a median age of 33.5 years, 54 of whom were women.
Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire detailing their overall satisfaction with the appearance of their nose, rated on a scale of 0 (very dissatisfied) to 10 (very satisfied). The results showed a significant increase from a median preoperative score of 4 to a postoperative score of 9, indicating a paired median difference of 4 (99% CI, 3-5.5).
Furthermore, the study found a notable rise in the percentage of patients categorized as “somewhat satisfied” and “very satisfied” with various aspects of their nose’s appearance, including the nasal bridge (16.1% vs. 89.2%), nasal tip (8.9% vs. 91.1%), and profile appearance (8.9% vs. 91.1%).
On a pain scale ranging from 1 to 10, with 10 representing extreme pain, patients reported a median pain level of 2. More than 89% of surveyed patients experienced pain in the 1 to 4 range, with none reporting pain in the 8 to 10 range. Additionally, adverse complications were generally low, with the most common events being bruising (87.5%), swelling (80.3%), tenderness (78.6%), and asymmetry (94.6%).
The study concludes that nonsurgical rhinoplasty using hyaluronic acid fillers can achieve comparable satisfaction to surgical rhinoplasty. The findings provide support for considering hyaluronic dermal fillers as a viable alternative for individuals seeking nasal reconstruction without undergoing surgery.
