The Truth About Laser Rhinoplasty: Debunking Unrealistic Advertising Claims
It seems that laser nose rhinoplasty has been done on different websites and that the laser is now a tool that facilitates nasal aesthetics operations.Can laser applications be performed in nose operations?
The answer can be given as yes and can be used in the following areas:- In septal cartilage deviation operations, laser melting or evaporation can be used without removing the curved cartilage areas.
- Can be used for open nose nasal surgery
- Can be used to remove or evaporate vascular masses in the nose
- It can be used for tightening the nose skin or nevus removal.
- It can be used for peeling or thinning the nasal skin.
Apart from these, it is not correct to pay attention to applications that do not have a scientific logic such as laser removal of the nasal bone, laser nasal rasping surgery, laser turbinate surgery.
People's laser applications "simple, practical, painless, bloodless, the latest technology!" shape perceptions, lead to the emergence of advertising campaigns away from scientific issues related olebiliy. All of the nasal tissues (bone, skin, subcutaneous tissue, cartilage ...) can not be shaped with laser. Laser can not be used in all surgeries .
Apart from these, for the reduction of turbinate, the first scientific work on laser usage was published in 2001 >> Endoscopic carbon dioxide laser turbinoplasty
The first study on laser-assisted septoplasty was published in 1997 >> Laser photocoagulation of the inferior turbinates
There is no scientific study exist about laser reshaiping of nose bone thus rhinoplasty operation.
It is not possible to perform a full rhinoplasty using laser!
Lasers are not sufficient to shape the nasal bone and cartilage. Laser energy cannot shape the bone tissue completely without causing serious damage. Surgery is still required for a real rhinoplasty.
Why Can't a Full Rhinoplasty Operation Be Performed with Laser?
Laser cannot cut or reshape bones!
Bone breaking, rasping and cartilage shaping are required in rhinoplasty. Laser cannot be used instead of the ultrasonic device and micromotor used in bone shaping.
Laser energy is effective in soft tissues (e.g. skin, veins) but cannot shape hard tissues (bone and cartilage) effectively and safely. Although it can cause serious heat damage and burns; it is not currently possible to shape bones with laser.
Laser Cannot Shape Bone and Cartilage!
Current laser technologies (e.g. CO₂, erbium:YAG, diode lasers) are generally suitable for soft tissue incision, bleeding control, or epidermal peeling. During rhinoplasty, conventional surgical instruments are still required for shaping hard tissues such as bone or cartilage. Laser is a stand-alone method that can only be used as an adjunct to surgery (Source: Ghanem et al., “Use of Erbium:YAG Laser in Rhinoplasty: A Comparative Clinical Study”, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2020)).
It is not possible to “lift”, “refine” or “shape” the nose with laser!
Such statements should be evaluated more within the scope of misleading advertising. Laser applications performed on the skin are only used to:
- Renew skin tissue,
- Reduce sebaceous glands,
- Reduce color irregularities.
Laser cannot effectively and permanently interfere with the internal structure or external contour of the nose. Laser procedures are usually superficial. Resurfacing, equalizing the skin tone or reducing scars have been areas of laser use for many years. Although these procedures can be used as an aid in rhinoplasty surgery and can slightly improve the aesthetic appearance, they cannot change the shape of the nose much.
For What Purpose and Where Can Laser Be Used in the Nose?
During rhinoplasty surgery, lasers can be used as an auxiliary tool. For example, some surgeons may use Erbium:YAG and CO₂ lasers for:
- Soft tissue incision,
- Bleeding reduction,
- Providing a clearer surgical field.
However, this does not mean that laser rhinoplasty is performed. Laser is only an auxiliary technology. During surgery, some surgeons may use the laser to burn the vessels or clean the incisions in open rhinoplasty (during surgery). Laser scar treatment can be used to reduce small scars that form after surgery, CO₂ or fractional lasers. These are:
In cases such as alar base (nasal wing) scars, incision scars on the columella, skin thickness problems, and color changes, technologies such as fractional CO₂ laser can be used.
In the study "Altıntaş et al., “CO₂ Laser for Alar Base Scar Revision After Open Rhinoplasty”, Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy (2016)", it was stated that alar base scar treatment with laser provided partial improvement in aesthetics but did not create a statistically significant difference.
Beware of Unreal Advertisements!
Some clinics may mislead patients with expressions such as "laser rhinoplasty", "knifeless rhinoplasty". Behind such expressions are usually:
Claims and facts put forward by some clinics:
If we want to write the Advertisement Claim and Facts in one line:
- "Knifeless rhinoplasty" - Applied only to the skin surface, there is no structural change.
- "Nose correction without breaking bones with laser" - Bones cannot be broken with laser. Bone correction can be done with surgical procedures.
- "Painless, scarless nose aesthetics" - Every rhinoplasty procedure involves some incision and scarring.
- "Permanent nose lift with laser" - Laser cannot create such an effect; cartilage shaping is required.
In fact, some of the above statements may be written to both attract the attention of patients and to appear at the top of Google search results. Such statements are marketing tactics that have no scientific basis and carry serious risks in terms of patient safety.
Rhinoplasty cannot be performed with laser alone. It only assists surgery or supports post-operative recovery. The term "nose aesthetics with laser" is often a commercial and misleading marketing strategy. If a real nose aesthetic is required, surgical rhinoplasty is still the gold standard.
Scientific Resources
- Ghanem AM, et al. Use of Erbium:YAG Laser in Rhinoplasty: A Comparative Clinical Study. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2020. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00266-019-01526-4
- Altıntaş A, et al. Use of CO₂ Laser for Alar Base Scar Revision After Open Rhinoplasty. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2016. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14764172.2016.1144646
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons – Position on Laser-Assisted Cosmetic Procedures. https://www.plasticsurgery.org
Murat Enoz, MD, Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgeon - ENT Doctor in Istanbul
Private Office:
Address: İncirli Cad. No:41, Kat:4 (Dilek Patisserie Building), Postal code: 34147, Bakırköy - İstanbul
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Appointment Phone: +90 212 561 00 52
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