Nose Thread Vs Fillers – Either/Or, Or Both? And What Is The Difference?

Nose thread lifts and nose fillers are rapidly gaining popularity as non-surgical alternatives for traditional rhinoplasty. Cosmetic rhinoplasty, commonly know as a “nose job”, is a type of plastic surgery that alters the shape of the nose, nose threads and fillers are thus considered a form of non-invasive rhinoplasty.

If you clicked on this post, you are likely deciding between getting nose fillers or a nose thread lift done, or you may be on the fence about getting a nose job and want to know what options are available to.

The good, or rather, comforting news is that you are not alone in wanting to find out more; rhinoplasty and double eyelid surgery are two of the most asked about, popular, well established, and regularly done cosmetic surgeries in Singapore. As Asian, we lean towards naturally having mono eyelids and/or “softer” features like a flatter and less well-defined nose. For those seeking a “sharper” look, nose threads and fillers are a quick and effective way to reshape and add definition to the nose.

Fast with next to no downtime

Before we jump into the meat of this discussion: what is the difference between thread lifts and fillers, let’s first touch on some of the advantages that non-surgical rhinoplasty has over surgical rhinoplasty. While surgical rhinoplasty is generally considered permanent as opposed to nose threads or fillers that typically last around one to two years, there are many merits to non-surgical rhinoplasty that may make it more suitable for you.

For starters, depending on the look you are trying to achieve, non-surgical rhinoplasty is just as effective as surgical rhinoplasty when it comes to adding definition, height, and sharpness to your features, as well as straightening the nasal bridge (hooked nose correction), or restoring/adding symmetry to the nose without some of the more severe risks associated with surgery.

Additionally, in terms of monetary cost, nose threads and fillers are cheaper compared to a rhinoplasty surgery. If you already have a sharp nose and you just want to add a little more definition/height to accentuate your look, or if you want very subtle results, paying for a full surgery would likely not be worth it, threads and fillers would provide a more affordable and “worth it” solution for such cases.

Have you asked yourself how much downtime or time away from work you can afford? Nose thread lifts and nose fillers have close to no post-procedure downtime compared to the longer downtime cost of a nose job surgery. While some swelling, soreness or mild bruising may occur at the site of injection, recovery usually takes between a just few days to a week. Thread lifts and fillers are also very quick procedures that take around 15 to 40 minutes to complete, making them suitable if you are on a tight schedule as you can potentially do it over your lunch break.

Revolutionary skin tightening technology: Ultra V Hiko nose thread lift

So, what is a thread lift? “Thread lift” refers to a procedure where contour threads are inserted into a targeted treatment area via needles to lift and tighten tissue. In the case of a nose thread lift, threads are used to enhance the nose profile by lifting the nose tip or elevating the nose bridge.

Ultra V Hiko nose threads used at The Clifford Clinic are made from polydixanone (PDO) monofilament threads that are fully bio-compatible with your body, bio-compatible meaning that PDO threads are absorbable by your body’s lymphatic system.

The main advantages of an Ultra V Hiko nose thread lift are:

• Quick: the procedure can be done during your lunchtime, taking just around 15 minutes to complete
• Low discomfort: PDO threads are ultra-thin (0.12mm), minimising any discomfort felt during insertion
• Immediate and sustained lifting effect: PDO threads lift the nose by providing immediate scaffolding for nose tissue and by stimulating collagen production and cellular renewal for a sustained lift
• Bio-compatible: unlikely to cause an allergic reaction and is suitable for those allergic to fillers

Generally, Hiko nose threads excel in re-sculpting the nose and have a lower risk of distortion over time due to their firmness compared to fillers. Hiko threads are also particularly effective if you are looking to enhance, heighten or make the tip of your nose more pointed, which may not be achievable using fillers.

Adding volume and shape without surgery: nose fillers

Dermal fillers can be grouped into two categories: reversable and non-reversable, both semi-permanent (calcium hydroxyapatite based) and reversable (hyaluronic acid based) are available at the Clifford Clinic. Semi-permanent fillers are usually firmer and thus less likely to distort post-procedure compared to reversable fillers.

When it comes to choosing between the two, it is almost based on your personal preference, if you are comfortable with non-reversable procedure that lasts longer or if you rather use a filler that does not last as long but can be reversed.

It is worth noting that while calcium hydroxyapatite fillers are non-reversable, they are not permanent like a surgical nose job. Calcium hydroxyapatite fillers are considered semi-permanent as they do naturally break down after 10 to 14 months, but they cannot be immediately broken-down following injection into the nose. Immediate removal of semi-permanent fillers would require surgery.

Advantages of nose filler:

• Quick: this is a fast procedure that takes 20 to 40 minutes to complete
• Immediate results: Results are visible immediately post injection with no down time
• Highly precise: Fillers are injected into points along the nose via fine needles. Unlike a thread lift, you can precisely control where you want the filler to be injected to finely tune your look
• Reversable: If you use a reversable filler, the results of the procedure are easily and immediately reversable if you do not like the outcome

Hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers can be dissolved by hyaluronidase (an enzyme), usually, one or two injections of hyaluronidase is sufficient, but that depends on how much filler was used and how many areas of concern the patient is unsatisfied with.

Nose fillers are great for adding volume to the nose, but they do struggle with re-sculpting the nose tip, fillers can also broaden the nose if multiple areas of the nose are injected due to the extra volume being added. Complications from improper injection of fillers are more severe compared to nose threads, filler is injected into an artery it can cause blindness or skin necrosis.

Should I do either a nose thread lift, or nose fillers?

While both procedures can be done individually, sometimes combining both procedures is the key to obtaining the best results. Your ideal nose can be best achieved by combining the precise control and volume adding qualities of dermal fillers with the stronger re-sculpting and lifting ability of nose threads.

Final words

If you would like to find out more about nose threads or fillers with a more detailed explanation about the procedure, an assessment to see if you are suitable for both procedures, or are simply interested in our other services such as hair transplant and acne scar treatments in Singapore, give us a call at 6532 2400 to schedule an appointment.