The New Non-Surgical Nose Job

January 30, 2007
Nose jobs represent one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States, with more than 200,000 performed in 2005. Now, patients are beginning to opt for a new, non-surgical way to straighten their noses and smooth out unsightly bumps.

Radiesse, an injectable wrinkle filler, has been around since as early as 1992 but recently gained FDA approval for use in facial contouring procedures. In addition to filling in folds and wrinkles, Radiesse is also being used to reshape noses and augment chins.

Cameron Rokhsar, a cosmetic dermatologist, says that the procedure is likely to gain in popularity given people's reluctance to go under the knife or pay the sometimes high cost of plastic surgery.

Patient Perspectives

Betty Cruz, a 40-year-old TV station administrator, underwent Radiesse injections two weeks ago to correct a bump on her nose that she'd had since birth and is pleased with her results.

“It was amazing. I noticed the difference immediately,” Cruz said.

Michelle Alvarez, 35, also wanted to get rid of the bump on her nose—before her wedding day—but feared the pain and cost of plastic surgery. She opted for injections of Radiesse.

“I felt like a new person. My wedding day came, and I didn't feel self-conscious about which way the camera captured me,” she said.

Benefits & Risks

According to Rokhsar, the non-surgical procedure only takes about 15 minutes, requires only a local anesthetic, costs approximately $1,500, and results are immediate and last for at least a year. Additional benefits include minimal risk and no downtime.

“The worst case (scenario) is that you won't like it, and the nose will go back to the way it was,” said Rokhsar.

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