Nose Filler VS Thread Lift
Author: Dr Branden Seow
For the longest time, surgical treatment to enhance or reshape the nose, otherwise known as rhinoplasty, has remained the only option for most patients who desire to remodel their nose. Eventually, nose filler became popular for patients who do not want to undergo a surgery to remodel their nose and nose filler remains a popular option for many patients today. Since the advent of HIKO (which literally means high nose in Korean) threads from Korea, there is another non-surgical option for nose enhancement available, giving patients more options today when it comes to getting the nose of their desire.
In this article, we will explore the key differences between the two non-surgical options of nose enhancement – nose thread lift and nose filler.
Type of material
Nose filler: Fillers can be made of hyaluronic acid or non- hyaluronic acid. The choice of filler material is dependent on the aesthetic practitioner’s preference as well as the patient’s preference. Filler made from hyaluronic acid can be dissolved. As such, should there be any complication or side effect from the filler, there is an antidote that can resolve the issue. For non-hyaluronic acid filler, the filler is longer lasting but there is nothing that can dissolve the filler away.
Nose thread: They are usually made up of either PDO (polydioxanone) or PCL (polycaprolactone). PDO and PCL are also used as suture material for surgeries. Both are completely bio-compatible and bio-absorbable. This means that the body can dissolve them away with time.
PDO threads will be gradually broken down over 6-9 months while PCL threads dissolve gradually over 18 – 24 months after the treatment.In many cases, doctors would recommend PDO threads to those doing a nose thread lift for the first time, as their effects are shorter as compared to other threads. If you are satisfied with the results, you can then return for another session with longer-lasting threads.
What it ennhances
Nose filler: Nose filler can make the bridge nose taller as well as the nose tip more defined and more projected.
Nose thread: Nose thread can also make the nose bridge nose taller as well as the nose tip more defined and more projected.
The main difference lies in their risks and side effects, which will be explored in the next segment.
Risks and side effects
Nose filler: The most feared complication, though rare, from nose filler is blindness. The nose has a rich vascular supply and they are connected to the blood vessels that supply the eyes as well. Blindness from fillers occur when the filler is either directly injected into one of the blood vessels or when there is so much filler injected in the nose that the filler compresses onto the blood vessel that supplies to the nose and eye. Such a phenomenon is also called “venous occlusion”. To minimize this chance of complication from happening, the filler is usually placed in the midline of the nose and at each area of the nose, a small volume of filler should be inserted.
Other potential side effects from the nose filler could be migration, where the filler spreads out and makes the nose wide. Another potential side effect is that the nose filler can cause lumpiness. All these side effects tend to happen if there is a lot of filler being used, which sometimes may be necessary to use a larger volume of filler to fill up the dorsum of the nose to make the bridge higher.
A small volume at the nose tip to sharpen the tip or make the tip more projected will usually not give the side effect of lumpiness or widening of nose.
Nose thread: Potential side effects from nose thread include deviation of the nose due to migration of the threads, swelling and bruising, and extrusion of threads. Extrusion of threads refer to the threads coming out of the entry point (a poke in the nose) that was used to insert the threads in the first place.
Extrusion tends to happen if the thread is not being inserted deep enough.
Swelling and bruising can occur because of the local anaesthesia that has to be applied before the procedure. Such side effects will resolve after a few days. There is no risk of blindless from nose thread.
Choice between nose filler and nose thread lift
Considering all above, nose filler and nose thread lift remain a safe and viable option for patients. Depending on patient’s preference and doctor’s preference, nose filler or nose thread can be employed as a non-surgical method to obtain the nose of your dream. Sometimes, both nose filler and nose thread can be used concurrently to shape or define the nose.
In general, to make the nose bridge higher, there is a trend for patients nowadays to choose nose threads. Nose threads can do the task of making the nose bridge higher effectively, bypassing the potential of blindness, no matter how rare, entirely that can come from fillers.
For nose tip projection or enhancement, either filler or nose thread can do the task equally well. The technique of choice is usually the preference of both the patient as well as the doctor, after a series of discussion of the pros and cons which were discussed in the previous segment of the article.
Do drop by The Clifford Clinic to enquire more and to see what suits you best!