Rhinoplasty
(Nose Surgery) FAQs
Please see our frequently asked questions for Rhinoplasty.
FAQs
An open rhinoplasty is when the surgeon makes an incision at the base of the columella which is the soft fleshy bit in between your nostrils, before lifting the skin back away from the nose. Once the surgeon has good visibility of the structure of your nose, they will be able to sculpt the cartilage and tissue according to your desired results.
The benefits of an open rhinoplasty is that is allows the surgeons better visibility of the nose allowing for more precision, allows surgeons to better stabilise the nose post-surgery and it is more commonly performed making it easier to find a surgeon with experience. Although an open rhinoplasty may extend your recovery time slightly, any scarring will be carefully concealed on the outer rim of your nose meaning it can still be easily covered.
A closed rhinoplasty involves the surgeon making small incisions inside the nostril and the surgery is then carried out via the nostrils leaving the outside skin and tissue untouched.
The benefits of a closed rhinoplasty include a quicker recovery time, no visible scarring and reduced swelling. However it is important that you pick a surgeon who is highly experienced in the closed rhinoplasty technique as it does not allow as much visibility compared to the open rhinoplasty so results will depend on the skill of the surgeon.
At The Private Clinic we have surgeons who offer both close and open rhinoplasty procedures. Both techniques can be equally as effective and the best method will come down to your anatomy and your surgeon’s expertise. At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss with you which method they believe is best to help you achieve your desired results and why.
Open and closed rhinoplasty are different techniques, but overall, they both have the same outcomes.
There are pros and cons to both techniques and these will be discussed in more detail during your consultation or see our blog on Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty.
You should start noticing results two weeks following your surgery. As your swelling lessens over the next few months, your results will gradually become more apparent. Please be aware that it can take anywhere between 6-12 months before you can see your final results.
All surgeons will have a portfolio of images to be able to show you at your consultation of former patients. We also have an online gallery of those patients who have consented to have their images displayed online – click here to view.
The Private Clinic sees over 15,000 new patients every year and performs over 10,000 procedures, with one of the highest patient satisfaction in the sector, Trustpilot excellent rating with over 1,800 reviews, 98% would recommend us to their friends and family.
The Private Clinic prides itself on its commitment to medical expertise, patient care and satisfaction, honest advice and most importantly results. We are above all committed to quality. Please contact us for any Rhinoplasty advice or to book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons. Rhinoplasty Cost can be part of your decision to undergo a procedure but it should never be the deciding factor. For more information about The Private Clinic, our experience and medical expertise click here
We don’t follow a one-price-fits-all policy and prices are quoted on a case-by-case basis. The cost of a rhinoplasty procedure starts at £8,000 – £10,000 depending on the surgeon. You will be given an accurate quote for your requirements following your consultation.
Consultations with our Consultant Plastic Surgeons are £100 at our clinics in London Harley Street, Birmingham, and Northampton.
We also offer consultations with our highly experienced Patient Coordinators which require a £25 refundable deposit to secure your place. Patient coordinators can offer you all the information you require before meeting a surgeon.
Please note all consultations available at our London Harley Street clinic are with a surgeon.
The Private Clinic has clinics nationwide so we are sure to have an expert rhinoplasty surgeon located near to you.
Our clinics;
Where can I can get a rhinoplasty in London?
London – 98 Harley street, W1G7HZ
Where can I get a rhinoplasty in Manchester?
Manchester – 25 St John Street, M3 4DT
Where can I get a rhinoplasty in Birmingham?
Birmingham – 88 Hagley Road, B16 8LU – West Midlands
Where can I get a rhinoplasty in Leeds?
Leeds – 45 Park Square North, LS1 2NP – Yorkshire
Where can I get a rhinoplasty in Northampton?
Northampton – 82 Billing Road, NN1 5DF – East Midlands
To find out more about booking a consultation at a clinic near you, contact us here.
- A rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure designed to alter the shape of look of the nose and in some cases improve its function due to either trauma or birth defects.
- A rhinoplasty is also more commonly referred to as a nose job.
- A Rhinoplasty procedure can;
- Narrow the bridge of the nose.
- Reshape the tip of the nose.
- Widen or narrow the nostrils.
- Reshape the bridge of the nose.Reshape the whole profile of the nose.
- Remove bone and cartridge off the nose to reduce the size
- Help with breathing difficulties.
- Correct a nose that was previously broken (commonly called a nasal fracture) from a sporting incident.
- Correct a deviated septum (a deviated septum can be caused by a nose fracture)
We are proud to have some of the UK’s best and most experienced Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons performing our Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping) procedures. We are experts in all types of nose reshaping including Caucasian and ethnic nose reshaping. Our patients include men and women of all ethnicities including Arabic, Mediterranean and Asian.
To find out more about rhinoplasty procedures offered here at The Private Clinic, use our online contact form to book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
In the case of most Caucasian Rhinoplasty’s the dorsal hump tends to be the focus of concern regardless of sex or age. Dorsal hump reduction is therefore an essential surgical step during a Rhinoplasty in order to resect portions of both the bone and cartilage. Following the dorsal height reduction, the vault of the nose is destroyed and must then be reconstructed in order to be functional again.
For the last 50 years, this technique was the standard procedure used by surgeons to remove a hump and change the shape of the nose. The unfortunate complications of this technique included: bone irregularities, dorsal deformities, saddle noses and breathing issues. Rhinoplasty surgery carries the highest rate of revision and secondary surgery out of all cosmetic procedures. Complex reconstruction surgery on the nose usually involves the use of grafts taken from the patients rib or ear.
If you could imagine the nose as a tall building with the top floor being the hump. In the past surgeons would remove the top floor or hump in order to reduce the size of the building. This approach leaves the roof open, which would then need to be reconstructed in order to restore the coverage.
By using the Preservation Rhinoplasty technique surgeons no longer need to destroy or reconstruct the dorsum or roof during surgery. The height or first floor is reduced internally, the nose then becomes smaller and the hump disappears.
This new technique is less invasive and less traumatic for the patient. Dorsal preservation also achieves a more natural result, avoiding many of the secondary deformities that lead to patients requiring revision surgery.
Patients who undergo Preservation Rhinoplasty have a faster recovery and are discharged home only a few hours following their surgery.
Thanks to this less invasive technique, the risk of bleeding post-operatively reduces, meaning that the soft packs inserted inside the nose allow the patient to breathe straight away.
To find out more about our Preservation Rhinoplasty procedure, use our rhinoplasty online contact form to book a consultation with our expert rhinoplasty surgeon.
Nose reshaping surgery or a rhinoplasty is a great procedure that can help you in you are feeling unhappy with the shape, position or size of your nose. You would only really be unsuitable for surgery if your surgeon felt your expectations were unrealistic or if you had anything that causes concern on your medical history. Before going ahead with your procedure, you will be able to discuss your desired goals, lifestyle and medical history to allow the surgeon to determine your suitability for nose reshaping surgery.
A preservation rhinoplasty is most beneficial for patients who require the bridge of the nose to be modified. The vast majority of patients are suitable for the preservation technique. However, 20% of patients will still require traditional Rhinoplasty surgery. A thorough consultation is required in order to assess the best technique for each patient.
To find out more about our Preservation Rhinoplasty technique and your suitability, book a consultation with one of your expert surgeons.
A rhinoplasty is often a great solution to help treat breathing difficulties caused by a previous injury to the nose or issues related to the natural position or shape of your nose.
The most common cause of breathing difficulties is a deviated nasal septum. This is the internal partition between the right and left nasal passage and it is not uncommon for it actually to be crooked on both sides which can really affect the airflow within the nose. In many cases, patients often do not even know they have this as they have never experienced what ‘normal’ breathing is. This procedure is known as a septo-rhinoplasty.
Other nasal issues that may affect breathing include previous injuries or a previous rhinoplasty that has resulted in breathing problems.
Immediately after rhinoplasty surgery, you may not necessarily have perfect breathing right away so it may feel like the procedure has not worked, or in some cases made your breathing difficulties worse. The inside of the nose has to undergo the same healing processes. Once the swelling has resolved after 1 or 2 weeks, you can expect to notice more of a change in your previous breathing difficulties and hopefully a positive improvement.
A Rhino-tip is the correction of just the tip and alar bases of your nose. Although some patients may need additional work to the rest of their nose, some patients who are just unhappy with the tip of their nose can get a successful result without the need for a full rhinoplasty procedure.
A rhinoplasty is suitable for anyone who has sustained a nose injury from sports such as rugby, cricket, hockey, boxing and other contact sports. However; if you play hard contact sports on a regular basis then it may be best to have surgery when you are not playing as often to avoid the need for a revision at a later date.
An Ethnic rhinoplasty or nose job is a specialist rhinoplasty technique offered to patients who are not Caucasian (i.e. Non-white), Asian, Middle Eastern, Afro-Caribbean or Mediterranean. The aim of an ethnic rhinoplasty is to give the patient a result that looks natural suiting the patient’s face without diminishing their natural ethnic characteristics.
At your consultation your surgeon will give a comprehensive assessment which includes an evaluation of the inside and outside of your nose. This will allow your surgeon to assess which techniques would be suitable for your nose. It is also your chance to discuss what you wish to achieve from surgery as well as going through any questions you may have about the procedure and talk through any concerns.
Your plastic surgeon will also go through what rhinoplasty surgery involves, the risks associated with rhinoplasty surgery and what aftercare and downtime you would require post-surgery. You will also be provided with a Rhinoplasty Patient Guide which will have all the information you need to know about the procedure. You will leave your consultation feeling well informed about the procedure to be able to make a decision about if to go ahead with surgery or not.
A Rhinoplasty procedure is performed either using an open procedure, where the incision is made across the columella or a closed procedure where the incisions are hidden inside the nose.
Once the incisions have been made, the skin is separated from the bone and cartilage layers of the nose. The bone and cartilage is then sculptured to the desired result of the patient before the skin is placed back over the new framework and small absorbable stitches are used to close the incisions.
Nasal packs are put in place which will be usually be removed after 48 hours and a nasal cast will need to stay in place for 7 days.
Your surgeon will explain the full rhinoplasty process with you at your consultation. Due to the nature of the procedure, everyone’s procedure will differ slightly depending on what is performed.
Rhinoplasty procedures are most commonly performed under general anaesthetic. Research has suggested that this is the best and safest way to perform rhinoplasty procedures. A Rhinotip correction alone may be carried out under local anaesthetic with sedation at the surgeon’s preference.
Patients will be discharged on the same day as their rhinoplasty procedure to recover at home once assessed by the surgeon.
Your surgeon will be able to discuss the rhinoplasty procedure with you in more detail at your consultation.
The length of time that a rhinoplasty takes will depend on what is being done during the procedure.
Overall, most Rhinoplasty procedures last 2-3 hours but it could take longer depending on the complexity of your case.
Revision rhinoplasty procedures do tend to take longer than standard rhinoplasties because they are far more complex.
To find out more about rhinoplasty procedures, book a consultation with one of our expert surgeons.
Rhinoplasty procedures can last up to two hours, it all depends on the complexity of your case. They are performed under general anaesthetic, so you will have to stay in hospital overnight for monitoring.
On the other hand, Rhino-tip Correction can be performed under local anaesthetic, in which case you can go home on the day of your operation. Your surgeon will advise you on whether this is a suitable option for you.
Patients may experience slight discomfort for the first couple of days after their procedure but you will be given a prescription for pain medication to help you with this. You may also have been given antibiotics and saline nose spray that should be used to your surgeons instructions too. Your nose will feel swollen and you may find nasal breathing a little difficult until the initial swelling goes down. Some patients can experience bruising on their face which will fade over time and can be covered with make-up a few days after the procedure. The splint will be removed between the 7th and 10th day post procedure and at this stage, you may feel comfortable to return to the majority of your everyday.
At The Private Clinic, we provide our patients with a comprehensive post-operative care service as part of your aftercare package. It is essential that you attend the scheduled post-operative appointments with the clinic nurses and surgeons.
We only perform rhinoplasties on patients who are over 18 years old and only on patients whose nose’s has completed their growth. There is no upper age limit for a rhinoplasty as long as the patient is in good health.
The amount of time your nose will be swollen depends on your individual case, however, you can expect a reasonable amount of swelling in the first two weeks following your treatment.
It will gradually lessen and become unnoticeable over the next 3-4 months. Residual swelling may persist up to a year, but it would only be noticeable to the patient.
The amount of time your nose will be swollen depends on your individual case, however you can expect a reasonable amount of swelling in the first two weeks following your treatment.
It will gradually lessen and become unnoticeable over the next 3-4 months. Residual swelling may persist up to a year, but it would only be noticeable to the patient.
Most patients are pleasantly surprised at how little the scarring is after a rhinoplasty procedure. The procedure itself can be a little invasive but due to the small area and the natural shape of the nose, only small incisions are required to access the nose.
The majority of rhinoplasty incisions are made inside the nose however depending on the technique used the incisions may vary slightly.
An open rhinoplasty involves incisions being made at the base of the columella which is the soft fleshy tissue separating the two nostrils. The scar left is very minimal and usually only visible to anyone looking at your nose from below.
A closed rhinoplasty has incisions made within the nostrils. This means that there will be no visible scarring.
You will be told what technique your surgeon is going to use prior to your procedure and scar placement will also be discussed during your consultation so you can make a fully informed decision before going ahead with rhinoplasty surgery.
The time you will need to take off work will depend on your own personal healing rate, your job role and also if you are happy for your colleagues to know about your procedure or not.
We usually recommend between 10-14 days off work. Once your splint has been removed which happens 7 – 10 days after your procedure, you should be fine to return to work however at this stage it is likely that you will still have some bruising and swelling which is why we suggest the additional week to let this settle.
A preservation rhinoplasty can dramatically reduce the amount of bruising and swelling that occurs, usually after the pack is removed at 7 days, you would be fine to return to work if comfortable to do so.
We recommend that you wait 3-4 weeks until returning to exercise and other strenuous activities but you should avoid any close contact sports and activities that could lead to your nose getting hit such as netball for at least 6 weeks.
We recommend that patients avoid flying for at least 3 weeks after a rhinoplasty as the changes in cabin pressure during the flight may be very painful whilst you are still healing. You may also experience additional swelling after the flight which can take 1-2 days to go down.
Another reason is that we prefer our patients to be close to one of our clinics to ensure that they are able to get help quickly should they require it.
Patients should avoid wearing glasses across the bridge of the nose whilst the nose is still healing to avoid altering the results. This can take up to 6 weeks so if you require your glasses to see, alternative arrangements should be organised before going ahead with your procedure.
You should not be driving straight after your rhinoplasty procedure and we do not recommend that you drive until your surgeon has said you can which is usually once you have finished your course of post-surgery medication. If you are driving quite quickly post-surgery, check that you are still covered by your insurance and do not operate the car unless you feel you are able to safely and comfortably manoeuvre the car.
The swelling caused by a rhinoplasty can affect your upper lip which can result in your natural smile being affected for at least a few days. This will soon subside and you should not notice any differences to your smile.
A permanent change in your sense of smell is rare after a rhinoplasty. You may initially notice that your sense of smell has been altered but this is due to the swelling of the inner lining of the nose. You may feel a little congested but this will improve over the week following your procedure and your sense of smell should return by the 6th week at the latest. Please speak to your surgeon if you have any concerns however.
We advise that you avoid playing contact sports for at least 6 weeks after your rhinoplasty procedure. It may also be beneficial to wear a nose guard for the first few months after your procedure whilst you are still healing.
Even rhinoplasties performed in the best of hands can result in external deformities or breathing difficulties post-procedure. This is unfortunately due to the complicated anatomy of the nose and the ‘vagaries of healing’.
It is important to wait at least 1 year before any additional surgery is performed to a nose that has had a previous Rhinoplasty procedure. This is to allow your nose to fully recover and in many cases the results after 1 year compared to the results are 6 months can be quite different once the swelling has gone and the bone tissues have softened.
If you are not returning your original surgeon to have a revisional rhinoplasty then your new surgeon may ask that you contact them to get details about your previous procedure. Knowing the details of what was performed previously will help your new surgeon to be able to make a more informed decision about how to carry out your revisional surgery.
Revisional rhinoplasty can be a very complex procedure so it is important to choose a surgeon who has experience in performing these types of procedures to ensure you achieve the best results.
It is not always essential that your nose is broken during a rhinoplasty and this will depend on the technique used by the surgeon, the type of nasal deformities and the end goals from the procedure. Usually if you are correcting the bridge of the nose, narrowing the nose or straightening the nose then the nose is usually surgically broken in a controlled manner using surgical cutting instruments to make precise cuts to reposition the nose.
Our new preservation rhinoplasty technique does not require the nose to be broken during surgery when removing a hump or changing the shape of the nose. Instead the nose is reduced from inside the nostril and as the nose gets smaller, the bump or hump will be reduced.
This technique is less invasive and less traumatic for the patient. Dorsal preservation also achieves a more natural result and allows for faster recovery with patients being discharged to recover at home the same day as their surgery.
To find out more about our Preservation Rhinoplasty procedure, book a consultation using our online contact form.
A rhinoplasty procedure is a relatively safe procedure but it does carry risks just like any surgical procedure would do. The most common risks after a rhinoplasty procedure include; infection, excessive bleeding, reaction to the anaesthetic, poor wound healing, scarring, change in skin sensation, skin discolouration, difficulty breathing, nasal septal perforation, unsatisfactory nasal appearance and the possibility of revisional surgery being required.
Your plastic surgeon will go through, in detail all the risks and complications that are associated with rhinoplasty surgery. You will also receive a Rhinoplasty patient guide which will have all the information you need to know before going ahead with rhinoplasty surgery. A consultation is also a great time to discuss any questions or concerns that you may have about the procedure and your surgeon will also be able to assess you and discuss which rhinoplasty technique is going to be most suitable for you and what you can realistically expect from surgery.
Bumps in the nose, narrow bridges and smaller nose tips can all be enhanced with our non-surgical rhinoplasty procedure, however this is not a permanent solution and continued treatment will be required to maintain the results.
We can offer a free rhinoplasty phone or video consultations with an knowledgeable patient coordinator who is very experienced in provide information about the procedure as well as recommending the best rhinoplasty surgeons to suit your requirements.
In order to secure the timed phone or video appointment we do require a £25 refundable deposit. This will be refunded once the consultation takes place. You are able to change your appointment time up to 48 hours before.
