Rhinoplasty surgery, also known as a nose job, is designed to alter the size and shape of the nose to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and enhance facial features. There are several different types of nose shapes, and the surgical technique required to correct each one will depend on whether an open rhinoplasty or closed rhinoplasty is carried out.
Key Facts And Myths About Rhinoplasty Surgery
Although open rhinoplasty is the most commonly performed procedure, a closed rhinoplasty can be an effective technique for appropriately selected patients.
Surgical versus non-surgical rhinoplasty
What is an open rhinoplasty?
Open rhinoplasty is a specialist nose reshaping procedure used for patients who require significant work to the nasal cartilage and bony framework. The procedure involves making an incision in the columella, which is the midline fleshy area of skin between the two nostrils at the base of the nose. Once the initial skin incision has been made, the surgeon carefully reflects the skin away from the nose’s underlying bone and cartilage framework. This allows complete visualisation of all the essential structures of the nose which require correction. Once the procedure has been completed, the columella is sutured with non-dissolvable stitches. The nose is dressed with a metal-backed foam splint which is carefully applied to the nose, followed by securing tape.
What is facial cosmetic surgery?
The splint is designed to protect the essential nasal structures, including the bony part of the nose, which may have been fractured as part of the bone reshaping. The splint is kept on for one week before being removed by post-operative nurses, and the non-dissolvable stitches will be removed.
Open rhinoplasty is the ideal procedure for patients who have significant structural defects of the nose, such as a crooked nose or a deviated nose. All revision rhinoplasty surgery is carried out using the open rhinoplasty approach. If cartilage grafting is required, the open approach is the preferred option as the surgeon can accurately visualise the cartilage in three dimensions.
What are the different types of nose shapes?
What is a closed rhinoplasty?
Closed rhinoplasty is less commonly performed compared with an open rhinoplasty. With closed rhinoplasty surgery, there are no external skin incisions, and all surgical incisions are made within the nose along the delicate mucous membrane lining. Unlike open rhinoplasty, which has an incision located on the skin of the columella, closed rhinoplasty is carried out using an endonasal technique. The closed approach does not permit complete visualisation of the bone and cartilage framework of the nose and is a technique used by very experienced rhinoplasty surgeons.
What Nose Shape Concerns Can Rhinoplasty Correct?
What are the pros and cons of open and closed rhinoplasty?
A closed rhinoplasty procedure does not result in visible scars as all incisions are made inside the nose. The rhinoplasty recovery after the closed approach is much quicker than an open technique as closed procedures are quicker to perform with less bruising and swelling.
Closed rhinoplasty is only suitable for certain concerns such as dorsal hump reduction or straightforward tip reshaping. More extensive surgery to the nose will require an open approach. There is no one ideal technique for rhinoplasty as it will depend on a patient’s goals for treatment and selecting an appropriate plan to get the ideal rhinoplasty results.
How much does closed rhinoplasty cost?
Rhinoplasty surgery starts from £5000 at Centre for Surgery in London. The exact rhinoplasty cost will depend on several factors, including the amount of work required, including the need for cartilage grafting and whether a primary rhinoplasty or a revision rhinoplasty is being carried out. Closed rhinoplasty is quicker to perform and, therefore, more affordable than open rhinoplasty. Once you have had your face-to-face consultation with one of our expert nose job surgeons, you will receive an accurate quotation from your dedicated patient coordinator.
How long does closed rhinoplasty take to perform?
An uncomplicated closed rhinoplasty surgery at Centre for Surgery can take approximately one hour. More complex reconstructive nasal surgery can require more than 3 to 4 hours. The exact time needed to carry out the procedure will differ between individuals as some deformities will be easier to correct than others.
After the procedure is complete, he will comfortably recover in a day surgery ward for up to 3 hours. Once you are deemed medically fit for discharge, our post-operative nursing team will give your adult caregiver full post-operative instructions on what to do. It is recommended that a responsible adult looks after you for the first 24 to 48 hours after rhinoplasty surgery.
Is closed rhinoplasty recovery quicker compared with the open approach?
The healing time for closed rhinoplasty is often much quicker than an open rhinoplasty, as it is a minimally invasive procedure. Actual rhinoplasty recovery times will differ depending on the surgical correction carried out; however, the recovery process can be optimised by complying with the surgeon’s post-operative instructions.
How long does swelling last after a Rhinoplasty?
We recommend that patients be off work for approximately one week to allow proper rest and avoid driving a car for the first two weeks. It would be best to try to sleep on your back for the first six weeks after surgery and preferably be propped up with 2 to 3 pillows so that you do not lie flat. It would help to avoid direct sunlight exposure to the nose to minimise scarring or hyperpigmentation.
What is the recovery like from rhinoplasty?
Most patients can resume physical activities after four weeks, including sexual activity, but we recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for six weeks after the surgery. Patients can expect to recover fully by six weeks, where most of the bruising and swelling should settle down after closed rhinoplasty. Our post-operative nursing team will book a one-week appointment to see you after the surgery to review your incision sites to make sure they heal properly. Your splint will also be removed, and you may be asked to continue applying brown tape to the nose for the next two weeks. Your surgeon will review you six weeks after the procedure.
Where is the best place for closed rhinoplasty in the UK?
In addition to closed rhinoplasty, our specialist surgeons regularly perform open rhinoplasty, rhino-tip surgery, septorhinoplasty and ethnic rhinoplasty (African nose job). The most appropriate nose surgery technique will be decided upon once you have been assessed at your face-to-face consultation. We are fortunate to have some of the best rhinoplasty surgeons in the UK regularly carrying out the full range of rhinoplasty procedures at Centre for Surgery. Our expert surgeons carry out more than 150 rhinoplasty surgeries each year and regularly present their work in national and international plastic surgery journals.
Some surgeons may offer 3-D imaging as part of the consultation process to give you an idea of how you could look after closed rhinoplasty. If you are interested in the service, please speak to one of our patient coordinators to arrange this. Our state of the art London cosmetic surgery clinic is located on Baker Street, Marylebone and is staffed by some of the best theatre nurses in the UK. Our anaesthetists are known for practising minimally invasive anaesthesia with total intravenous anaesthesia or TIVA. TIVA anaesthesia uses short-acting medications to enable you to recover quickly and smoothly after your procedure which means you get to go home later the same day and recover in the comfort of your own home.
Our dedicated post-operative nursing team provide proactive nursing care after your rhinoplasty procedure to ensure the quickest and smoothest recovery possible. Our nurses are available 24 hours, seven days a week, if you have any questions or concerns. To learn more about rhinoplasty and what it involves, please contact us today and book a face-to-face consultation with one of our top rhinoplasty surgeons in London.
