Why Choose To Have Rhinoplasty?
Whether you feel that your nose is the too long, too big or has a ‘hump’ on top, this procedure can make a difference your overall appearance and improve breathing if there is reduced air entry from the nose.
Procedure In Brief
The operation will depend on the area being treated, but will involve re-shaping of the cartilage and bones of the nasal bridge (dorsum) and /or the cartilages of the tip. When most of the work is being done to the bridge for removal of the hump the surgery is usually performed from inside the nostrils (known as Closed Rhinoplasty).
When the tip cartilages are being changed then an Open Rhinoplasty is performed involving a cut made on the columella (skin between the nostrils).
Nose – Bridge
Cartilage and bone will be removed from bridge of the nose, which is then fractured to allow the remaining bone to be moved closer together. This results in both removal of the hump and narrowing of the nose.
Nose – Tip
When the tip of the nose is to be treated the cartilage that supports it will need to be partly removed or reshaped. This will sometimes be done through the nostril (Closed Rhinoplasty) or through a small cut in the Columella (Open Rhinoplasty).
Scars
Both Closed and Open Rhinoplasty will result in very little/no visible scarring. Closed Rhinoplasty is carried out inside the nostril and the scars inside the nose almost vanish after a period of time. For patients who have Open Rhinoplasty the Columella incision heals very well and also becomes very difficult to see.
Medicines
A full medical history will be obtained before any surgery. As a precaution, do not take any over the counter medicines or herbal remedies prior to surgery or for 3 days following. Also avoid aspirin and ibuprofen based tablets. It would be useful to bring a list of any prescribed medications to your pre-op assessment.
Smoking
If you are a smoker, try and stop for a minimum of five days before and after surgery as it can reduce the chances of complications.
Recovering from Nose Re-Shaping (Rhinoplasty)
Length Of Surgery
The operation takes approximately 3.30 – 4.50 depending upon the technique.
Nights In Hospital
Usually a day case or one night stay.
Dressings And Stitches
A splint will be placed on the nose and held in place with tape. A pad will be placed underneath the nose. This will be removed after 12 hours, but the splint will stay on for 7 days.
Time Off Work And Socialising
People vary in recovery, but patients should allow 2 weeks to recover. Most patients are comfortable after 3-5 days, but will be bruised and find it difficult to breathe through the nose for up to 2 weeks.
Time To Exercise
Patients usually feel able to walk a distance at 3-5 days, swim by 3 weeks (if fully healed). Strenuous exercise (aerobics etc) should be avoided for 4-6 weeks.
Post-Operative Instructions
Day 1 You should be taking it very easy! Either relax in the hospital or at home.
Day 2-7 You can be up and about but you will still feel discomfort and will need to be protective of your nose and splint.
7-14 Your stitches will be removed and most of the swelling and bruising will settle over this time. You will be feeling much better from here onwards. You can start exercising gently and build it up over the next 10 days.
Week 3 onwards you will be nearly back to normal.
Driving
Patients should avoid driving until they are completely free of pain and restriction, and be able to confidently perform an emergency stop. This is to ensure they will be covered by their insurance policy. It may take up to two or three weeks to recover sufficiently.
Follow Up
We will check your wound and change the dressing at day 7. You will then have an appointment with Amir Tadros at 10-14 days, and then again at 3 months. You will not be charged for any follow up appointment relating to your surgery.
Final Outcome
It is common to experience some bruising and this will take 2-4 weeks to disappear. The final result will improve over the first 12 months.
Potential Complications With Nose Re-Shaping (Rhinoplasty)
This is a routine operation that is successful for the vast majority of patients. However, as with any procedure, it is very important you understand what can go wrong as well as right. The potential complications are listed below.
- Bleeding: Minor bleeding is common and stops in the first 24 hours. In a small number of cases the bleeding can be heavy and can result in having to return to theatre to control it.
- Scars: Both Closed and Open Rhinoplasty will result in very little/no visible scarring. See ‘Scars’ at the top of the page for further information.
- Infection: Very uncommon but if occurs you may need a course of antibiotics.
- Skin irregularity: Although uncommon, if the bridge of the nose is treated to remove a ‘hump’ the bone and cartilage left behind can have small irregularities that may show through the skin.
- Change in skin colour: Skin on the nose can become pink, but this tends to only affect patients who undergo repeat Rhinoplasty procedures.
- Asymmetry: There can be subtle differences between the two sides of the nose from differing bone or cartilage position.
- Pain: A small number of patients experience some pain for a number of weeks after the surgery.
- Loss of smell and taste: This is usually transient, but for some patients their senses can be altered long-term.
- Swelling: Usually patients experience little swelling in the nose. The exception can be in Open Rhinoplasty, in which the nose may be more swollen and take longer to settle.
If you would like any information about this surgery or experience any side-effects that you are concerned about, please don’t hesitate to contact us
What does Nose Re-Shaping (Rhinoplasty) cost?
Rhinoplasty from $19,600,250 (closed) and $18,950 (open)
Frequently Asked questions
I am a smoker, will this cause complications with the surgery?
Smoking always poses a risk to anyone undergoing surgery, no matter what the surgery is for. It is essential that you try to stop or radically cut down prior to your operation to prevent the risk of complications.
How old do I have to be to have a nose job (rhinoplasty)?
Unless there is a significant health issue which would require urgent attention, it is advisable to wait until a young person has finished growing as features can change. This is roughly around 17-18 years old for boys and 16 years old for girls.
Everyone is different however, and emotional maturity is also likely to be taken into account.
Although rhinoplasty can have huge confidence enhancing benefits for young people, undergoing cosmetic surgery is still a serious decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
How soon after breaking my nose can I have a rhinoplasty?
As with all post-accident reconstructive surgery, different injuries will require different approaches. It is advisable to speak to your surgeon shortly after the accident to give them chance to decide whether urgent action needs to be taken or not.
In most cases, a broken nose will come hand in hand with a considerable amount of swelling and is therefore advisable to let the injury settle down before scheduling rhinoplasty surgery.
Most surgeons will suggest waiting between 4-6 weeks, for the swelling to subside. However, in some cases, when the bones in the nose are badly broken and displaced, your surgeon may prefer to operate immediately.
Can rhinoplasty improve my breathing through my nose?
Rhinoplasty will help the functionality of the nose by creating a less obstructed nasal package with clearer channels to breathe through.
Sometimes, however, breathing can be affected by sinus problems, so it is worth highlighting the source of the problem before electing to have rhinoplasty for this purpose alone.
I dislike the hump on my nose. Can this be safely removed?
This is probably the most common request with a rhinoplasty. Fortunately, done carefully, this is a successful operation.
The cartilage and bony ‘hump’ are removed through the nostrils (closed rhinoplasty). The side bones of the nose are then broken to allow the nose to be reshaped and narrowed slightly.
My nose is bent and I want it straightened. Can this be done?
Straightening a bent nose often involves a mixture of straightening both the bones and cartilage in the nose. The central strut to the nose is called the septum. If this is bent it often curves into one side making it difficult to breath.
All of this can be improved but not always fully corrected. Sometimes it can all be done through the nostrils and sometimes the nose skin is lifted in an open rhinoplasty.
The tip of my nose is big. I want a smaller more feminine nose. Is this possible?
Changing the tip of the nose is possible but it is one of the more difficult areas to guarantee changes. This is because the skin of the nasal tip can be quite thick and does not always shrink to the shape we want it to.
The tip cartilages are fine structures and if we cut and change them too much it can lead to deformity or other problems. So, yes we can make your nasal tip smaller, more feminine but there are limitations! This would be done through an open rhinoplasty.
I have large nostrils but I’m happy with the rest of my nose – can you do anything to minimise the size of my nostrils?
It is possible to have nostril reduction surgery (alarplasty) without having to undergo a complete rhinoplasty.
The surgery is likely to involve narrowing the nostril by removing a crescent shaped piece of tissue from the area where the nostril wall meets the cheek.
As the incision is made at the base of the nose, scarring is likely to be relatively inconspicuous.
How long before the bruising disappears after my rhinoplasty?
The main bruising is around the eyes and can last 2-3 weeks, although is usually less than this.
