Can Fat Injections Be Done For The Nose?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have been getting injectable fillers placed in the bridge of my nose to hide a small nasal bump that I have. It works quite well but doesn’t last as long as I would like. I am thinking that injecting fat may be better since it can be permanent. Has this ever been done before?

A: To no surprise, injecting fat into the nose is not new or novel. Like synthetic injectable fillers, fat grafting can be an option to change the shape of the nose for those that do not want to undergo surgery…in very carefully selected patients. As has been proven with the use of synthetic fillers, injections are for adding volume in nasal deformities that benefit from augmentation. This is primarily useful in deficient areas in the upper nose where a hump or pseudohump deformity may exist. It can also be useful for those that want a higher radix area for the same reason. (camouflage a small hump) There are also selective tip or bridge depressions which may also be helped by the injection of small amounts of fat droplets.

While fat can be injected into the nose, it is important to realize that it behaves differently than a cartilage graft or an implant. Because it is soft, it is prone to recoil pressure from the tight overlying skin. Thus it is more prone to resorption, distortion and migration from the injected site.  It is best injected into a tight pocket as exists in a pure injection technique rather than as part of an open rhinoplasty.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis,Indiana