Rhinoplasty (nose job)

AKA
Nose Job, Nose Reshaping



What is a Rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasty otherwise known as a nose job was one of the earliest recorded cosmetic surgery procedures, first developed in India in around 800 BC, and involves reshaping the nose to produce a more pleasing aesthetic result. Although the nose job is usually thought of as a cosmetic procedure, to get rid of lumps and bumps on the bridge of the nose, or to bring a bulbous conk down to size, it can also be used to treat sinus or breathing problems.

Who is suitable for Rhinoplasty?
One thing to be aware of with rhinoplasty is that it can have a massive impact on your facial appearance generally, so some surgeons suggest this isn’t a procedure that you should leave until later life – it’s easier to get used to such a major structural change in your face when you’ve had fewer years putting up with it the old way.

It is crucial that you have a thorough consultation with a surgeon before going ahead with surgery, as you may find that the problem is not to do with your nose at all, but to do with facial balance as a whole – a recessive chin can cause your nose to look unusually large, and you might find that Chin Augmentation (p 64) is a more suitable procedure for you. These days, 3D imaging software is frequently used during consultation, so your surgeon should be able to show you if this is the case.

If the problem is with your nose, but is fairly minor, or you’re inot quite ready to go under the knife just yet, non-surgical nose reshaping can be achieved using Dermal Fillers (p 78).

What’s a Rhinoplasty procedure like?
There are several different techniques for rhinoplasty. It tends to be a fairly invasive procedure and so is usually performed under general anaesthetic.

An ‘open’ rhinoplasty is usually performed through an incision made in the 'columella' – the column between the two nostrils.

Bone and cartilage will then be removed or re-arranged and the incision stitched together. This is the preferred technique of most surgeons as it makes it much easier for them to see what they are doing, and is used for more complicated or extensive procedures.

A ‘closed’ rhinoplasty is exactly the same except that all the work is made through the nostril, so it’s more suited for simpler cases.

Augmentation rhinoplasty can be performed, to make a small nose larger, but this is quite rare and again involves taking cartilage from elsewhere on the body, so is a more complex operation.

What happens after surgery?
You may have to wear a splint to support your nose for about a week, and dressing packs might be placed in each nostril for a day or two, to prevent you from breathing through your nose. You will have a lot of bruising and swelling around the nose and this can last for several weeks, so you might want to wait a while before arranging the ‘big reveal’. Any pain or discomfort can be dealt with using painkillers.

Will I have a scar after my Rhinoplasty?
An open rhinoplasty will produce a very small scar on the column between your nostrils, but this is barely noticeable.

Cost
From £2,500 to £4,000.

Who does it?
Plastic Surgeon
Face Surgeon