How much does it cost for a permanent nose fillers such as Artefill?

Artefill is a longterm filler and I continue to see many patients with chronic complications associated with Artefill, as it is difficult to remove. Best, DR. Karamanoukian#Realself100 Surgeon

Hello,  The use of dermal fillers for non-surgical rhinoplasty has become increasingly popular.  I have been quite pleased with the outcomes of the patients that I have performed this treatment on.  The result can be quite dramatic and satisfying.  Of course, with any elective, cosmetic surgery treatment, choosing the patient wisely is of utmost importance.  Choosing your injector carefully is also very important.  If you haven't had this procedure done previously I recommend that you start by choosing a temorary filler.  The hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, etc) are an excellent option for more than one reason.  First, if you use a temporary filler and you are not happy with the result, the filler will dissipate within a few months and you haven't "burned any bridges".  Also, if the initial outcome with the hyaluronic filler is not to your liking, the filler can can dissolved with hyaluronidase immediately.  Another very important consideration in choosing a permanent filler such as Artefill, now called Bellafill, is that this filler has the potential to clump or harden.  I have not personally seen this outcome but I have only used Bellafill in the nose once or twice keeping in mind the possibility for product clumping or unacceptable result.  Bellafill cannot be dissolved if it is unsightly and typically must be surgically excised if removal is desired.  The surgical removal of this filler comes with its own set of issues such as inadeqaute removal and scarring.  You must be aware of these issues and willing to accept the risks and potential complications associated with this off-label use of the product.  I highly recommend that you first use the temporary fillers injected by someone skilled in non-surgical rhinoplasty and have them inject your nose 2-3 times over a period of time so you know they are proficient and reliable performing this technique.  Only after that should you consider allowing them to use a permanent filler such as Bellafill.  Even then, as stated above, there is some risk of post-injection complications.  Best wishes,Dr. Mitchell.

The question that should precede how much a permanent filler costs should be whether one should in fact have a permanent, foreign-to-the-body filler injected anywhere in the face in the first place.Unquestionably and admittedly, the idea of having a treatment with a permanent filler that does not require repeat treatments down the road is very enticing. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that Bellafil (the new name of Artefill), the only approved permanent filler, silicon, and bioalcamid (both both of latter not approved for dermal filler use) are foreign substances (i.e. not natural ), meaning that the body does not recognize them and possesses no natural way of breaking them down and removing them. These totatlly foreign substances are more akin to finely ground glass, fiberglass and superglue. As such, should problems or adverse reactions occur with their use, such as undesirable aesthetic results or persistent nodules occur following treatment (or even granulomas up to twenty years afterward), there is no way to remove these products. And finally, what might look good today may not look so good as the surrounding tissues change and droop with aging while the permanent filler remains fixed and unchangeable.Fortunately, we have a number of semipermanent, robust volumizing fillers that are natural and are subject to natural enzymatic degradation and yield consistently gratifying results that may need to be touched up as needed, literally within five minutes in experience hands, only once every year or two--a frequency far less often than our two to three times per year half hour or more visits for dental cleaning or annual dentist visits. Make sure you ask to see your injector's before and after photos of nonsurgical nose jobs.