Your Guide to Getting Botox® for Nose Tip

By Dr. Stephen Cosentino

PRESIDENT OF EMPIRE MEDICAL TRAINING

If you’re unhappy with the shape and position of your nose tip, consider a Botox® nose tip lift. It’s a nonsurgical intervention that can temporarily raise a droopy nose tip, brightening and harmonizing your facial appearance.

Find out if you’re a good candidate for a Botox nose lift and what to expect from the procedure and its results. 

Why Get Nose Tip Botox?

A Botox nose tip lift temporarily corrects droopy nose tip, a common cosmetic complaint among people of all ages. 

It works best for mild to moderate droopiness caused by tension in a specific muscle that connects the tip of the nose to the upper jaw. It’s not as useful for patients with nose shape complaints caused by congenital issues or physical trauma.

Why Does the Nose Tip Droop?

Persistent tension in the depressor septi nasi muscle can turn the nose tip downward and keep it there. Because this muscle helps control facial expressions around the mouth and nose, any changes in its activity patterns can permanently alter your resting facial expression and overall facial appearance. 

What Are the Advantages of Nose Tip Botox?

As a neuromodulator that can temporarily relax facial muscles, Botox is an ideal treatment for muscle-related nose tip droop. Its advantages over a surgical nose job include:

• Targeted and subtle results — surgical correction is overkill for such an isolated, small-area complaint
• Minimally invasive — no incisions or grafting
• Fast — patients can resume most normal activities the next day
• Affordable — Botox is much less expensive than surgery
• Temporary — if you’re not happy with the results, get a follow-up procedure or wait for the medication to dissipate

What to Expect From Botox Treatment for a Droopy Nasal Tip

Here’s what to expect from nose tip Botox.

How Does a Botox Nose Tip Lift Work?

The depressor septi nasi muscle is one of the many locations on the face where Botox may be injected safely. In relatively small doses, injected Botox can relax this muscle and allow the nose tip to lift back toward its “natural” position. The injector targets a series of injection sites under the nose, near the base of the septum.

How Long Does the Procedure Take?

A Botox nose lift is an outpatient procedure that typically takes no more than 30 minutes. Do arrive early and allow time afterward for the provider or their assistant to give follow-up instructions. 

How Long Do Nose Tip Botox Results Last?

Botox nose lift results last 3 to 4 months. Beyond this point, the nose tip’s droop may become noticeable again and necessitate another treatment. Following treatment, full results should appear (or reappear) within 1 to 2 weeks.

What Are the Risks of Nose Tip Botox?

Common Botox side effects include mild swelling, redness, itchiness, and pain at the injection site. Complications such as drooping or asymmetric smile are less common and usually due to injector error, so it’s important to work with a provider who has completed comprehensive nose injection training and advanced Botox training coursework.

Are There Alternatives to Nose Tip Botox?

The most common alternative to nose tip Botox is traditional rhinoplasty (a surgical nose job). But this is an aggressive and more risky procedure that’s not appropriate for isolated nose tip complaints. 

A nasal thread lift is a less invasive alternative that’s also temporary. It may be suitable or unsuitable depending on the patient’s anatomy and desired results.