Nonsurgical Rhinoplasty: A Graft-based Technique

Segreto F, Marangi GF, Cerbone V, Alessandri-Bonetti M, Caldaria E, Persichetti P.

PubMed 31624669 Publisher (DOI)Free full text (PMC)

What this paper says

Across 70 consecutive patients treated with hyaluronic acid placed to reproduce the grafts used in surgery, no complications occurred, 2 needed a touch-up at 15 days, and FACE-Q scores improved significantly in all domains.

Overview

Filler injection into the nose can only add volume, never remove it, so the authors frame it as three-dimensional reshaping by grafts alone. This study describes placing hyaluronic acid in the positions where surgical grafts would go, and reports outcomes on a validated questionnaire.

Sections of note

70 consecutive patients underwent nonsurgical rhinoplasty using the same type of hyaluronic acid.
The stated aim was to reproduce, with filler, the grafts previously described for surgical rhinoplasty.
The rhinoplasty module of FACE-Q was administered before treatment and 15 days after.
No complication was experienced.
2 patients, 2.8 percent, required a retouch after 15 days for further bridge correction.
Statistically significant differences were found between before and after values in all FACE-Q domains and overall scores.
The authors conclude the technique is safe, effective and reliable, allowing correction of selected nasal defects with reduced cost and minimal downtime.

What it means for a patient

Filler can only build up, so the technique works by adding volume around a feature rather than reducing it.
Follow-up here was 15 days, which measures the immediate result and not how long it lasts.
No complications occurred in 70 patients, though the nose carries a recognized risk of vessel blockage.
Limits: 70 patients, one center, no comparison group, and assessment at 15 days only.

Why this paper matters

Mapping filler placement onto established surgical graft positions gives injectors a rationale rather than improvisation. The FACE-Q measurement is a strength over descriptive reports. The very short follow-up leaves duration, the main practical limitation of filler, unaddressed.

Terms

Hyaluronic acid: A gel filler that can be dissolved with an enzyme if needed.
Nonsurgical rhinoplasty: Reshaping the nose with injectable filler instead of surgery.
Graft-based technique: Placing filler in the positions where surgical grafts would be used.
FACE-Q: A modular validated questionnaire covering facial appearance outcomes.
Downtime: The period a patient is unable to resume normal activities.

Summary written by rhinoplasty.cc from the abstract, 2026-09-09; not medical advice. The authors' own abstract follows.

Abstract

Background: Nonsurgical rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid (HA) has gained popularity due to its efficacy and minimal downtime. From a structural standpoint, it is like performing a tridimensional reshaping where only enhancement by grafts is allowed. To date, indications, technique, and products are still debated. The aim of this study is to describe the author's experience with nonsurgical nasal reshaping, focusing on the indications and maneuvers to safely achieve, by mean of HA, the grafts previously described for surgical rhinoplasty.

Materials And Methods: A total of 70 consecutive patients underwent nonsurgical rhinoplasty using the same type of HA. The rhinoplasty module of FACE-Q was administered to all patients before treatment and 15 days posttreatment. Statistical analysis was performed.

Results: No complication was experienced. Two (2.8%) patients required a retouch after 15 days for further dorsal correction. There was a statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative values in all domains and overall scores of the rhinoplasty module of FACE-Q.

Conclusions: The graft-based technique proved to be safe, effective, and reliable. It may allow correction of selected nasal defects with reduced cost and minimal downtime.

Abstract as indexed by PubMed; the article is open access (PubMed Central).