Liquid Rhinoplasty

Page Updated: December 1, 2023

Liquid rhinoplasty, also known as non-surgical rhinoplasty, injection rhinoplasty, or a non-surgical nose job, is a cosmetic procedure that involves using dermal fillers to reshape and enhance the appearance of the nose—without the need for surgery. Dr. Hilinski is highly experienced in performing liquid rhinoplasty in San Diego with natural-looking results and little to no downtime.

• Liquid Rhinoplasty Goals
• Liquid Rhinoplasty Versus Rhinoplasty Surgery
• Advantages of Liquid Rhinoplasty
• Test Driving a New Nose
• Why Dr. Hilinski for Liquid Rhinoplasty?
• What’s Involved with Liquid Rhinoplasty?
• Liquid Rhinoplasty Fillers
• Liquid Rhinoplasty Results
• Frequently Asked Questions About Liquid Rhinoplasty

Liquid Rhinoplasty Goals

The main goal of liquid rhinoplasty is to target undesirable aesthetic features of the nose using minimally invasive injectable fillers.

Common problems we can address with liquid rhinoplasty include:

• A hump or bump on the bridge of the nose
• A depressed or low bridge
• Irregularities in the profile view
• Poor nasal tip projection or definition
• Abnormal tip angulation
• Asymmetry

Liquid Rhinoplasty Versus Rhinoplasty Surgery

There are many patients who simply don’t want to undergo a surgical procedure to reshape the nose. This can be due to a variety of factors that includes surgical risks, anesthesia concerns, downtime for recovery, and higher costs.

Advantages of Liquid Rhinoplasty

Liquid rhinoplasty offers our patients several advantages when it comes to reshaping the nose.¹ These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• An office-based treatment
• Immediate results can be seen
• Highly customizable procedure
• Minimal downtime
• No incisions or general anesthesia
• Minimally invasive and non-surgical procedure
• A reversible procedure (with use of certain fillers)

Test Driving a New Nose

There are also quite a few patients who are strongly considering surgical rhinoplasty but wish to ‘test drive’ the shape of a new nose on their face. For these patients, liquid rhinoplasty with a temporary filler is a fantastic option that helps them ‘trial’ the new nose before ultimately deciding whether or not to undergo the surgery.

Why Dr. Hilinski for Liquid Rhinoplasty?

Dr. Hilinski is an established board-certified plastic surgeon with a worldwide reputation for creating beautiful noses. Similar to surgical rhinoplasty, liquid rhinoplasty demands great attention to detail and an artful eye for making the right adjustments. In addition, liquid rhinoplasty requires precise technical details—a skillset that is repeatedly honed by Dr. Hilinski as part of baseline surgical practice.

What’s Involved with Liquid Rhinoplasty?

Getting Ready for Liquid Rhinoplasty

A consultation appointment with Dr. Hilinski is a great way to learn more about what liquid rhinoplasty can do for you. During this conversation Dr. Hilinski will explain your options, answer any questions, and create your treatment plan. Prior to your treatment appointment you may want to avoid drinking alcohol or taking blood-thinning medication such as ibuprofen in order to reduce the chance of bruising.

The Liquid Rhinoplasty Procedure

During liquid rhinoplasty, Dr. Hilinski will carefully and strategically inject your nose with hyaluronic acid fillers, typically Restylane or Juvederm, to help achieve the desired shape, size and contour. Although liquid rhinoplasty involves use of needles (after all, that is why we call it liquid rhinoplasty!), they are incredibly small and extremely well tolerated. In addition, the dermal fillers contain lidocaine, a numbing medication, within them—making the process even more comfortable. Some patients will even describe it as being relatively painless. For those who are a bit nervous, we also have the ability to provide nitrous oxide to make you feel even more relaxed during the liquid rhinoplasty procedure.

Liquid Rhinoplasty Fillers

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are by far the most common dermal fillers used for liquid rhinoplasty. The two most popular products used by Dr. Hilinski include Restylane and Juvederm. HA fillers are wonderful choices for liquid rhinoplasty because they are designed to reshape facial soft tissues and work beautifully when placed under the skin of the nose. In addition, products like Restylane and Juvederm can be dissolved—which is why liquid rhinoplasty is considered a reversible cosmetic procedure.

While some longer lasting fillers are also used for liquid rhinoplasty, they are not reversible which makes them a bit more challenging to use and, therefore, less popular.

Results from Liquid Rhinoplasty

Because HA fillers gradually get broken down by the body and eventually get absorbed away, liquid rhinoplasty results are considered temporary. This gradual process of filler breakdown usually takes around 10-12 months, although there are some patients who will see results for upwards of 18 months after liquid rhinoplasty. If you desire a repeat injection after the results begin to visibly dissipate, a simple office visit is all it takes for another liquid rhinoplasty.

Frequently Asked Questions About Liquid Rhinoplasty

Who is an ideal candidate for liquid rhinoplasty?

Ideal candidates are individuals seeking subtle enhancements to correct minor nasal imperfections. It is not suitable for those requiring significant structural changes or with a history of certain medical conditions. If you are interested in changing the shape of your nose, but you are not ready for surgery, a “liquid nose job” may be right for you. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Hilinski to learn more.

What are the risks of liquid rhinoplasty?

Injectable filler treatments are generally considered a very safe cosmetic procedures when performed by a specialized expert such as Dr. Hilinski. On occasion some patients will experience mild swelling and/or bruising at the injection site. But this typically resolves within days if it occurs. Another risk is that some of the filler may get injected into a blood vessel, which can cause problems with the skin and the eyes. Fortunately, this occurs very rarely.

What is the downtime after liquid rhinoplasty?

There is usually minimal recovery time associated with liquid rhinoplasty and patients typically resume normal activities right away. Patients may experience some temporary swelling or bruising, so you may want to schedule your procedure with that in mind, but these side effects generally resolve within a few days.

¹ American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What is liquid rhinoplasty? Available at: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/what-is-liquid-rhinoplasty. Accessed November 13, 2023
² American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dermal Fillers. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers. Accessed November 13, 2023