(Picture: Malte Mueller/Getty/Metro.co.uk)

A new type of nose job promises to be speedy and simple by using tiny needles and an electric current.

Researchers say that the tip of the nose can be changed using electromechanical reshaping (EMR), which involves passing an electric current through cartilage (in this case, the cartilage in the nose) to make it pliable.

While the cartilage is soft and malleable, a surgeon can reshape it however the patient fancies. Then the current is turned off and the tissue is left to set for a few minutes.

It’s claimed that the changes caused by this treatment would be permanent, and the procedure will only take five minutes, making this new type of nose job an alternative option to rhinoplasty or the use of fillers.

As well as being quicker, this method would also avoid stitches and scarring, and could be done under local anaesthetic.


But before you get excited about the option of a fast tweak to your nose, it’s worth noting that no human tests have been done yet.

So far, researchers have only tried EMR on animals, finding the process could change a rabbit’s ears from upright to flopped down.

Also, EMR may only work on the tip of the nose, as it affects cartilage rather than bone.

Doctor stitching patient's nose during plastic surgery operationMore medical photos;
(Picture: E+/Getty)

Dr Hill and Professor Brian Wong, from the University of California, say that far more research is needed before they can go ahead with EMR. They need to work out if the process poses the risk of adverse results, and whether temporarily changing the acidity of the tissue could cause any side effects.

Traditional rhinoplasty is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, and can be used to change the size, shape, and angle of the nose by removing or rearranging cartilage and bone

In an open rhinoplasty, a cut is made across the skin between the nostrils, while in a closed rhinoplasty tiny cuts are made inside the nostrils, leaving no visible scars.

It’s a serious surgical procedure that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The process can take up to three hours, and most patients have to stay in hospital for a few night afterwards before being sent him with a splint, unable to breathe through their nose.


Side effects include a blocked nose, swelling and bruising around the eyes, and nosebleeds during recovery.

Risks include permanent breathing difficulties, heavy nosebleeds, an altered sense of smell, and the risks of any surgery; excessive bleeding, infection, an allergic reaction to anaesthetic, or a blood clot.

MORE: Model left with split and swollen ‘trout pout’ after fillers went wrong

MORE: Student spends £13,000 on Botox and fillers to look like ‘real-life Barbie’