My “Nose Job”
I’d like to discuss the issue of rhinoplasty, a.k.a nose job. The motto of my blog is: “Working with our Asian beauty, rather than against it”. I am all for plastic surgery and cosmetic enhancements if 1) you do it for yourself and no one else 2) you are incredibly unhappy with whatever it is you want to change 3) you do it to enhance what you have already and 3) you are realistic in your expectations. When the nose is concerned, I personally believe that the nose should retain its ethnicity. You can build on the nose bridge and narrow the nostrils for example but one shouldn’t go so far as to hack off so much that they end up looking like Jacko. Retain your Asian-ness! This naturally leads me to talk about a new procedure I recently underwent to build up my nasal bridge called the Non-Surgical Nose Job. I have always been happy with my nose, it’s small, cute but was lacking a bit in the bridge area and viewed this as a minor imbalance. However I did not want to go down the traditional path of rhinoplasty as the after effects sounded horrendous (black eyes, swollen nose for weeks, unable to see full results until 4 months + later, the list goes on). Plus, there was no guarantee that you would get the nose you wanted. Also, the issue I wanted to address was such a minor imbalance that I could not justify the cost of going under the knife. What I was seeking was an alternative, a procedure that was as minimally invasive as possible yet gave great results. Somehow, somewhere I stumbled across a site that discussed this new procedure. It involves using injectables such as Restylane or Radiesse into the areas to be shaped and contoured. Dubbed the 15-minute nose job, it promised to offer immediate results, no down-time, and is painless (they apply a numbing cream to the area first). After having done my research on this and convinced that this was the best and safest option for me, I took a leap of faith and had my first visit on Feb 6th 2009 followed by a second visit three weeks later. Most patients stop after the first visit but I wanted more Restylane to augment the bridge a bit more and to define the tip. The results were immediate and are astounding as you can see from the following photos:
(Click on photos for enlarged version)
Before
The only pain I felt was when he injected the Restylane into the tip of my nose….it stung like mad but apart from that, no pain, not even the slightest when he was working on the bridge. The only thing you feel though obviously is the pressure from where he is pressing and moulding
Immediately after 1st visit on 6th Feb 2009
the area. The procedure time was broken down into the following:
- 20 minutes for the topical cream to work its numbing magic on the area
- 15 mins of injecting, moulding and shaping
That was it! Immediate results, no bruising, no redness, it was fantastic.
Post 14 days after 1st treatment
Saying this, this procedure is not ideal for those with major deformities or who wants to reduce the size of their nose. Surgical intervention would be required. So while a traditional rhinoplasty typically reduces a nose by shaving down a bump or bulges, this procedure
Immediately after 2nd treatment on 20th Feb 2009
is ideal for candidates such as myself who is looking to BUILD (as opposed to TAKE AWAY) our features up and improve the overeall balance. The cost is very affordable at £300-600 ($450-900) compared to a traditional nose job at £3500. ($5250+). However the injections are not permanent, depending on the fillers you get, you are looking at 9 to 12 months, sometimes longer such as 2-5 years if you get Artefill for example.
My friends have commented that I look great, yet they can’t place their finger on what it is. I am 100% satisfied with the results that it has convinced me to opt for the more permanent filler, Artefill, when my next visit is due.
