Rhinoplasty (Nose Job)

Transform your look and achieve the nose you’ve always wanted with a personalised nose job tailored to your unique facial features

Rhinoplasty, also known as a “nose job,” is a surgical procedure used to change the shape of the nose. The procedure can correct a wide range of issues, including a bulbous tip, a crooked nose, a hump on the bridge, and nostril asymmetry. It can also be used to improve breathing, reduce the size of the nose, reshape the nose, and improve the overall appearance of the nose.

RELATED: What are the different types of nose shapes?

Although a nose job is most commonly carried out for cosmetic reasons, it can also be used to address functional symptoms, including difficulty breathing through the nose caused by a deviated septum and eliminating loud snoring and sleep apnoea. This is why it is important for a rhinoplasty surgeon to have expertise in nasal reconstruction, as they may be required to operate on the nasal septum and the turbinate bones, which may be responsible for nasal blockage. Septoplasty is the procedure used to correct a deviated septum which is commonly responsible for airway obstruction.

There are many reasons why patients choose to have a rhinoplasty. Many patients may have sustained previous traumatic injuries to the nose due to playing contact sports and sustaining a nasal fracture. In these cases, private medical insurance coverage may be available, but you should check at the consultation to see if this is possible. Regardless of the reasons for having the procedure, our treatment philosophy is to aim for natural-looking results in harmony with the rest of your facial features, with a beautifully contoured and sculpted nose that has permanent results. Nose reshaping surgery requires years of skill and dedication to produce consistently good outcomes, as even a couple of millimetres can make the difference between achieving natural-looking results and surgical results that may suggest an ‘overly done’ look. A rhinoplasty is also known as a ‘nose job’. It is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in the UK, with up to 1 in 10 of all cosmetic surgery procedures involving a rhinoplasty procedure.

Browse our rhinoplasty and nose job photo gallery to see the results achieved by our surgeons at Centre for Surgery. The before and after samples of the patient photos we have on file are below. When you come to see us for a consultation, a wide variety will be available. We only show photos of our patients who have given written consent to use their images on our website.

RELATED: Rhinoplasty (Nose Job) before and after photos

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There are several reasons why people choose to have a nose job. Some of the most common reasons include the following:

To correct a congenital defect or injury

Some people are born with a nose that is misshapen or has structural problems, while others may have sustained an injury to their nose at some point in their life. Rhinoplasty can be used to correct these issues and improve the appearance and function of the nose.

To improve breathing

Some people may have difficulty breathing through their nose due to structural issues or a deviated septum. Rhinoplasty can be used to correct these problems and improve nasal airflow.

To improve appearance

Many people choose to have a nose job for cosmetic reasons. They may be unhappy with the shape or size of their nose, or may feel that their nose is out of proportion with their other facial features. Rhinoplasty can be used to reshape the nose, reduce its size, or improve its symmetry.

To remove a nasal bump

Some people may have a bump on the nose or a hump on the bridge of the nose, and they may choose to have a rhinoplasty to remove it and improve the overall appearance of the nose.

To reduce the size of nostrils

Some people may have large nostrils, and they may choose to have a rhinoplasty to reduce the size of the nostrils to improve the appearance of the nose.

To correct a deviated septum

A deviated septum can cause difficulty breathing and may be corrected during a rhinoplasty.

What is the success rate of a nose job?

The success rate of a nose job varies depending on the specific procedure and the surgeon’s skill. In general, however, the success rate for rhinoplasty is high, with most patients reporting satisfaction with their results when performed by a specialist London rhinoplasty surgeon. Complications such as infection, bleeding, and dissatisfaction with the nose’s appearance are relatively rare.

Rhinoplasty can be used to correct a wide range of issues, including:

A bulbous tip

A bulbous tip refers to a nose that appears round or rounded at the end. Rhinoplasty can be used to reshape the tip of the nose to make it appear more refined and defined.

A crooked nose

A crooked nose can be caused by a congenital defect or an injury. Rhinoplasty can be used to straighten the nose and improve its overall symmetry.

A hump on the bridge

A hump on the bridge of the nose can be caused by a congenital defect or an injury. Rhinoplasty can be used to remove the hump and create a more natural and smooth bridge.

Nostril asymmetry

Some people may have nostrils that are different sizes or shapes. Rhinoplasty can be used to correct this asymmetry and improve the overall appearance of the nose.

A deviated septum

A deviated septum refers to a condition in which the cartilage and bone in the nose are not aligned correctly. A deviated septum can cause difficulty breathing and may be corrected during a rhinoplasty.

To reduce the size of the nose

Some people may want to reduce the overall size of their nose to better balance their facial features.

To reshape the nose

Some people may want to reshape their nose to improve its appearance, or to make it more in proportion with the rest of their face.

To improve breathing

Some people may have difficulty breathing through their nose due to structural issues or a deviated septum. Rhinoplasty can be used to correct these problems and improve nasal airflow.

We are home to some of the foremost rhinoplasty experts in the UK with years of experience in carrying out all types of rhinoplasty, including:

Open Rhinoplasty

Open rhinoplasty techniques involve making a very small incision at the columella at the base of the nose between your nostrils. Extra incisions are made inside the nose that are not easy to see. An open rhinoplasty results in full visualisation of the bony and cartilaginous framework. This permits a more precise correction of the nasal deformity. Open rhinoplasty is ideal for the correction of the full range of nose deformities, and certain types of rhinoplasty are only performed with an open technique, such as revision rhinoplasty.

Closed Rhinoplasty (endonasal rhinoplasty)

Closed rhinoplasty, also known as endonasal rhinoplasty, involves making incisions inside the nostrils. These incisions are not visible after the procedure. The disadvantage of a closed rhinoplasty includes limited visualisation and increased difficulty in surgically manipulating the nasal structures. Although not as commonly performed as an open procedure, this procedure does have a reduced recovery time and leaves no visible scars.

Septorhinoplasty

Septorhinoplasty is able to address breathing problems affecting the nose. Septorhinoplasty is commonly performed for patients that have septal deviation. The septum is the midline partition made of both cartilage and bone that divides the nose into two halves. An incision is made in the tissue lining the inside of the nose, known as the mucosa is then gently lifted off the septum. The septum is then straightened using a variety of surgical techniques, including spreader grafts. The straighter septum markedly improves breathing through the nose. In addition to addressing functional problems, the aesthetics of the nose can be enhanced as septorhinoplasty is a two-in-one procedure.

Tip plasty

Tip rhinoplasty or tip plasty is designed to address the cartilage part of the nose without any bone work being performed. Rhino-tip surgery can be performed via both an open and closed technique, though it is most commonly performed with the closed rhinoplasty method to reduce visible scarring. Tip reshaping is ideal for those who do not require dorsal hump removal. Typical examples of patients who need rhino-tip correction include patients with a large boxy tip. Big tips are often rounded, which is often because of thick skin. Bent or crooked tips often lead to the appearance of one nostril looking bigger than the other, which gives rise to nasal asymmetry. Large nostrils can give the impression of a flattened nose when viewed front-on. Wide nostrils can be addressed with an alar base reduction. Finally, tip rotation can be an issue, especially when viewed side-on, including over-projecting tips, which give the appearance of a hooked nose and under-rotated tips, which are less common.

Ethnic Rhinoplasty

Ethnic rhinoplasty is ideal for patients from certain ethnic backgrounds who tend to have broader and flatter noses with enlarged nostrils. Our surgeons employ specialised augmentation rhinoplasty techniques to improve structural support. It is often not appropriate to perform conventional reduction rhinoplasty methods in the ethnic nose. Cartilage can be harvested from a number of sites, including the ear or rib. The harvested cartilage is carefully reshaped to fit the recipient site. Alar base reduction is an ideal procedure to reduce the width of the nostrils. In some Far Eastern patients, the inner part of the eyelids is webbed as it blends with the nose. Often, this will also be corrected during the ethnic rhinoplasty.

Preservation rhinoplasty

Preservation rhinoplasty techniques means surgeons no longer need to break the nose during surgery. The dorsal height can be corrected via an internal access approach to reduce the height sequentially. This incremental approach means the nose will become smaller as the height is reduced internally, and the hump will be removed. The preservation technique takes longer to perform, but the benefits are often well worth the increased procedure time.

The rhinoplasty procedure has evolved, moving away from destructive cartilage techniques to the preservation of your cartilage and the utilisation of minimally invasive surgical approaches to minimise downtime.

Preservation rhinoplasty can be performed through both an open and closed approach. The key feature in either technique is surgical dissection in the correct plane, which can be tricky if the surgeon lacks experience. Restoration of the soft tissue architecture through the repair of ligaments released to access the nose helps reduce postoperative swelling and leads to a quicker recovery.

Approximately 1 in 5 patients will still require a traditional procedure, and your surgeon can advise you on the most appropriate surgical method.

Revision rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty caters to individuals who have previously undergone rhinoplasty and now seek to refine or modify their nose’s shape due to dissatisfaction with the initial surgery’s outcome.

The nose consists of both a bony and cartilaginous skeleton. The lower two-thirds are composed of cartilage, and the upper one-third is bony. The cartilage in the lower two-thirds is the same as that found in the ear cartilage. The nose is divided into two halves by a midline cartilage partition called the septum. The septum functions to as a structural support for the cartilage part of the nose to prevent nasal collapse. Most types of rhinoplasty, when performed on Caucasian noses, are for reducing the size of the nose through the reduction of both the bony and cartilaginous portions of the nose.

RELATED: How to make your nose smaller

Rhinoplasty, a transformative surgical procedure to reshape the nose, is increasingly popular among both men and women. In fact, data from The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons highlighted that, in 2020, rhinoplasty emerged as the leading aesthetic surgery for men in the UK, underscoring its widespread acceptance and the evolving perception of cosmetic surgery among males.

Despite the universal application of rhinoplasty techniques across genders, there are distinct differences in the surgical objectives and expectations between male and female patients. These differences are not just rooted in anatomical variances but also in the unique aesthetic goals each gender typically seeks through rhinoplasty.

Male Rhinoplasty

For male patients, rhinoplasty often focuses on enhancing the nasal structure to create a more pronounced, straighter angle and a defined profile. The goal is to achieve a more rugged and distinguished look, with attention to maintaining or introducing angularity that signifies strength and masculinity. Men opting for rhinoplasty might also aim to correct deformities or asymmetries resulting from injuries, particularly those related to sports, ensuring the nose complements other facial features without dominating the face.

Female Rhinoplasty

Conversely, female rhinoplasty typically aims for a gentler enhancement, favouring a refined and delicate outcome. This often includes narrowing the bridge, reducing a dorsal hump, and elevating the tip slightly to create a graceful, aesthetically pleasing profile. These subtle changes can significantly impact overall facial harmony, softening and feminizing the appearance. It’s noteworthy, however, that the flexibility of rhinoplasty allows for incorporating traditionally masculine traits into female rhinoplasty and vice versa, catering to the diverse preferences and identities of all patients.

Anatomical Considerations and Additional Procedures

Anatomically, men’s noses tend to be larger with a thicker skin layer, which can lead to a bulbous appearance, especially in the tip. This characteristic is more pronounced with age and can be exacerbated by certain skin conditions, such as Rosacea, particularly in men between 50 and 70. Addressing this requires precise surgical techniques to refine the tip while considering the skin’s characteristics for a natural, balanced outcome.

Furthermore, male rhinoplasty is often complemented with other procedures, like chin augmentation, to enhance the masculine appeal by improving facial proportions and symmetry, further accentuating a strong, masculine jawline alongside the reshaped nose.

Personalised Rhinoplasty

We understand the importance of a personalised approach to rhinoplasty. Recognising each patient’s unique aesthetic goals and anatomical needs, we offer five distinct rhinoplasty techniques. We invite you to schedule a consultation with our seasoned surgeons to discuss your aspirations and explore the most appropriate rhinoplasty procedure. Our commitment is to work closely with you, ensuring a tailored approach that aligns with your desired outcome, whether you seek to enhance masculine features, soften and refine your profile, or address specific concerns unique to your facial structure.

Preparing for rhinoplasty involves several important steps to ensure that the surgery goes smoothly and that the patient can recover as quickly and comfortably as possible.

Here are some of the key steps that patients should take to prepare for rhinoplasty:

Medical assessment

Patients will need to undergo a medical assessment to ensure that they are in good health and that they are able to undergo the surgery safely. The surgeon will review the patient’s medical history, perform a physical examination, and may order some lab tests if necessary.

Stop smoking and avoid certain medications

Smoking can interfere with the healing process, so patients should stop smoking at least six weeks before the surgery. Patients should also avoid certain medications, such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as they can increase the risk of bleeding.

Make arrangements for postoperative care

Patients should make arrangements for post-operative care, such as arranging for someone to drive them home after the surgery and having someone stay with them for the first few days to help with tasks such as bathing and dressing.

Follow preoperative instructions

The surgeon will provide you with detailed preoperative instructions, including information on what to eat and drink before the surgery, how to prepare for the surgery, and how to care for the surgical site after the surgery. You will need to follow these instructions carefully to ensure a smooth recovery.

Understand the recovery process

The rhinoplasty recovery process can take several weeks, so the patient needs to understand what to expect during the recovery process and plan accordingly. Some swelling and bruising are expected after the surgery, and the patient will need to avoid certain activities, such as sports, heavy lifting, and exercise, for at least two weeks.

Have realistic expectations

You should have realistic expectations for the outcome of the surgery and understand that the final results of the surgery will not be visible until the swelling has completely subsided.

Rhinoplasty typically takes 1-3 hours to perform. However, the recovery time can vary depending on the individual and the complexity of the procedure.

Open Rhinoplasty vs Closed Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty can be performed using two different techniques: open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty.

RELATED: Open vs Closed Rhinoplasty – Which is Best?

Open rhinoplasty

In this technique, the surgeon makes an incision across the columella (the area between the nostrils) in addition to incisions inside the nostrils. This allows the surgeon to have clear and direct access to the underlying bone and cartilage, which allows for greater precision and control during the reshaping process. The incision across the columella usually leaves a small scar which can be easily hidden.

Closed rhinoplasty

In this technique, the surgeon makes all the incisions inside the nostrils, which allows the surgeon to access the underlying bone and cartilage. This technique is less invasive and leaves no visible scarring. However, it can be slightly more challenging for the surgeon to have the same level of precision and control as with open rhinoplasty. The choice of technique will depend on the patient’s goals, anatomy, and the surgeon’s experience and preference.

RELATED: What is the difference between an open and closed rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty surgery step by step

Anesthesia

Rhinoplasty is typically performed under general anaesthesia.

Incision

The surgeon will make incisions inside the nostrils or across the columella (the area between the nostrils) to access the underlying bone and cartilage.

Reshaping the Bones

Depending on the desired outcome, the surgeon may use surgical tools to reshape the bones of the nose. This may involve breaking the nose and resetting it to a new position or using small grafts to add or remove bone.

Reshaping the Cartilage

The surgeon may also reshape the cartilage, which provides structure and support to the nose. This may involve removing or repositioning cartilage or using grafts to add cartilage to certain areas.

Closing the Incisions

The surgeon will then close the incisions using sutures or surgical tape.

Placement of Splint

A splint is placed on the outside of the nose to help maintain the new shape of the nose and to protect it during the healing process.

Will my nose need to be fractured during a rhinoplasty?

During a rhinoplasty, also known as a “nose job,” the nose may or may not be fractured, depending on the specific goals of the surgery and the individual case.

In some cases, the surgeon may choose to use an “open” technique, which involves making an incision on the columella (the small strip of tissue that separates the nostrils) to access the nasal bones and cartilage. In these cases, the surgeon may need to fracture the nasal bones to reshape them and achieve the desired outcome.

In other cases, the surgeon may choose to use a “closed” technique, which involves making incisions inside the nostrils to access the nasal bones and cartilage. In these cases, it may not be necessary to fracture the nasal bones.

Recovery after rhinoplasty can vary depending on the specific procedure performed, the patient’s overall health, and the patient’s individual healing process.

The patient’s nose will be swollen and bruised immediately after the surgery. The surgeon will place a splint on the nose to help support it during healing. The patient will also have to wear a nasal dressing, which will be removed after a week.

RELATED: How To Reduce Bruising And Swelling After A Nose Job

During the first few days, the patient will experience some pain and discomfort, which can be managed with pain medication prescribed by the surgeon. Cold compresses can be applied to the nose to help reduce swelling and bruising. The patient should also rest with their head elevated to help reduce swelling.

The patient can return to work or school within a week, but strenuous activities such as sports, heavy lifting, and exercise should be avoided for at least two weeks. The patient should also avoid any activities that could cause injury to the nose, such as contact sports or activities that expose the face to the sun.

Swelling and bruising will gradually improve over the first few weeks, but some residual swelling can take up to 3 months to fully subside. The final results of the surgery will not be visible until the swelling has completely subsided.

The patient will need to follow the surgeon’s instructions for post-operative care and attend follow-up appointments to ensure that the healing process is progressing as expected. The patient should also be aware that there may be some slight asymmetry and irregularity after the surgery, but these issues can usually be corrected with revision surgery if necessary.

Recovery after rhinoplasty can be different for every individual and that some people may experience more or less swelling, pain, and other side effects than others.

RELATED: How long does it take to recover from nose job surgery?

Recovering from rhinoplasty can take several weeks, but there are steps you can take to help speed up the process.

Follow all postoperative instructions

Your surgeon will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for yourself after the surgery, including how to clean your nose, how to sleep, and when to return for follow-up appointments. It is important to follow these instructions closely to avoid complications and promote healing.

Keep your head elevated

Keeping your head elevated can help reduce swelling and bruising. Use pillows to prop yourself up when sitting or lying down.

Apply cold compresses

Applying cold compresses to your face can help reduce swelling and bruising. Use ice packs or frozen peas wrapped in a towel.

Avoid strenuous activity

Avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for at least two weeks after surgery. This will help reduce the risk of bleeding and swelling.

Take your medications as prescribed

Your surgeon may prescribe pain medication and antibiotics to help with pain and prevent infection. Be sure to take the medication as prescribed, and don’t stop taking it until your surgeon tells you it’s okay to do so.

Avoid smoking

Smoking can impede healing, cause infection and delay recovery time.

Keep your follow-up appointments

Your surgeon will want to see you for follow-up appointments to monitor your progress and ensure that everything is healing properly.

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Like any surgical procedure, rhinoplasty carries certain risks and potential complications. It is important for patients to be aware of these risks and potential complications before deciding to undergo surgery.

RELATED: Risks of rhinoplasty surgery and how to minimise them

Some of the potential risks and complications of rhinoplasty include the following:

Anaesthesia complications

As with any surgery that requires anaesthesia, there is a small risk of complications related to the use of anaesthesia, such as reactions to the drugs used or problems with breathing.

Infection

There is a risk of infection after any surgical procedure, including rhinoplasty. Signs of infection include redness, warmth, and increased pain or drainage from the surgical site.

Bleeding

Some bleeding is normal after rhinoplasty, but excessive bleeding can lead to hematomas, which are pockets of blood that collect under the skin. Hematomas can cause additional swelling and can lead to scarring.

Nasal obstruction

Rhinoplasty can cause temporary or permanent nasal obstruction if the internal structure of the nose is damaged or if the nasal passages are narrowed during the procedure.

Asymmetry

There may be some slight asymmetry and irregularity after the surgery, but these issues can usually be corrected with revision surgery if necessary.

Unsatisfactory results

Some patients may be unhappy with the results of their rhinoplasty and may require revision surgery to achieve the desired outcome.

Skin necrosis

There is a small risk of skin necrosis, which is the death of skin tissue due to lack of blood flow.

Scarring

Although the incisions made during rhinoplasty are usually small and hidden inside the nostrils, there is a risk of scarring.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty ‘liquid nose job’

For patients who desire only subtle changes to the nose and are not keen on the idea of invasive surgery, the option of non-surgical rhinoplasty is now available for temporary correction of nasal imperfections. In non-surgical rhinoplasty, hyaluronic acid-based soft tissue fillers are injected to reshape the nasal framework. Non-surgical rhinoplasty should be viewed as a medium-term solution as the fillers have a thicker consistency and therefore last up to a year. Hyaluronic acid fillers gradually break down, and the procedure is not a permanent solution. The non-surgical nose job procedure is commonly used as a ‘tester’; patients can gauge how they look with the non-surgical rhinoplasty first. If they are happy, then they can proceed with a more permanent long-term solution in the form of surgical rhinoplasty. Patients who are not keen on the idea of surgery can opt for yearly maintenance treatments. It should be noted that non-surgical rhinoplasty can not correct all abnormalities of the nasal structure, unlike a surgical rhinoplasty and is ideally suited for correction of the nasal bridge or tip correction.

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