Rhinoplasty

What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty - nose reshaping - is a cosmetic surgery procedure that refines the nose by surgically reshaping the bone, tissue, and cartilage or by inserting grafts or implants into the nose. A rhinoplasty surgeon can reshape the bridge of the nose, straighten the septum, change the length of the nose, reshape the tip, and change the dimensions of the nostrils, to enhance the overall appearance of the nose.

It is not uncommon for a nose to lack symmetry, have a slight bump or have a deviated septum. But, for those who feel self-conscious about inherited bumps or those as a result of an injury, cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery can correct it and create a more symmetrical nose.

What are the benefits of rhinoplasty procedures?

The main benefit of rhinoplasty is the noticeable boost in self-esteem. Many of our past patients have returned to us, informing us how much more secure and confident they feel in their day-to-day lives after having a nose job. 

With nasal surgery you can:

• Reduce the size and narrow the bridge of the nose

• Straighten a deviated septum

• Reduce and straighten bumps or humps in the nose

• Reduce the size of the nose, improving the side profile

• Reduce the size of the nostrils

• Change the angle or distance from the nose to the upper lip

• Lift the tip of the nose

• Improve breathing difficulties and snoring

• Improve self-esteem and confidence

• Easily style hair and make-up without disguising the nose

• Achieve balanced facial features

What are the rhinoplasty techniques available?

There are two common rhinoplasty techniques: open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty. The technique is determined by the patient’s physical requirements and the surgeon’s preference.

• Open rhinoplasty - A small incision on either side of the nostrils is made before elevating the skin to access inside the nose.

• Closed rhinoplasty - Performed from inside the nostrils, without any external incisions.

• Alar base reduction - Performed as part of a rhinoplasty procedure to adjust the width of the nostrils.

• Septo rhinoplasty - Performed as part of a rhinoplasty procedure to correct a deviated nasal septum.  

Areas of the nose that can be operated on

• Bridge - If the bridge of the nose is being operated on, the surgeon removes the bone and cartilage that is causing ‘the hump’. The nose may then be broken to allow the remaining pieces of bone to be moved closer together, resulting in the narrowing of the nose.

• Tip - When the tip of the nose is operated on, the cartilage that makes up the tip support needs to be partly removed or reshaped. This is done through the nostril, or by making a small cut in the bit of skin between the nostrils.

• Length - A surgeon can adjust and reduce the central structure of the nose, known as the septum, to help shrink the tip and reduce the overall length of the nose. Adjustment to the tip cartilages also helps adjust nasal length.

• Width - By breaking and repositioning the side nasal bone, a surgeon can also reduce the width of the nose and achieve a narrower appearance.

Rhinoplasty eligibility 

In the UK patients aren't able to undergo rhinoplasty procedures until they are 18+ years of age. If you have been considering cosmetic surgery for a while and are under the age of 18, MYA recommends talking to your friends and family and carrying out research into the procedure until you are of legal age to proceed with surgery.    

How much does rhinoplasty cost in the UK?

Nose reshaping surgery with MYA can cost anywhere from £7,995. 

Rhinoplasty surgery costs are tailored to individual requirements and can vary from person to person. When considering nose surgery, it is important to research the procedure, surgeons and cosmetic surgery provider in detail. To read more about our finance options, click here.

How do I prepare for rhinoplasty surgery?

Following your face-to-face surgeon consultation, you will be invited to attend a ‘vitals' appointment with a MYA nurse. During this appointment, the nurse will take physiological measurements and perform screening procedures such as taking blood samples and swabs, as required as well as assessing your medical history. You are also required to attend an online pre-operative assessment with a nurse who will discuss pre and post-operative advice and requirements.

You will receive your hospital admission time up to 24-48 hours before your surgery date. Patients should shower either the evening before or the morning of surgery and must not apply deodorant, makeup, or skincare products.

Patients must not eat anything (including chewing gum) 6 hours prior to the hospital admission time. If you do eat prior to the 6 hours, surgery will be cancelled. You can drink small sips - 30mls per hour - of still clear water, up to 2 hours before your hospital admission time.

Patients must not drink alcohol for a minimum of 48 hours before nose surgery. If you drink more than 2-3 alcoholic drinks each day, you will need to abstain (stop) for 2 weeks prior to the date of surgery. MYA advises patients not to smoke, vape, or use nicotine patches for a minimum of 4 weeks prior to surgery (each surgeon will provide you with specific guidance on stopping smoking). 

Patients are also advised not to smoke, vape, or use nicotine products until they are fully healed, as this can lead to delayed healing and increased infection risk, having a negative effect on rhinoplasty recovery.

Rhinoplasty Surgery 

Each individual is different, a rhinoplasty is not a ‘one size fits all’ procedure. Our specialist rhinoplasty surgeons will consider factors such as the patient’s facial features, the size of the nose, the skin quality, the patient’s age, past medical history, and their desired outcome. After a thorough assessment, the surgeon will recommend the best treatment plan for them and discuss the risks, limitations and benefits of rhinoplasty surgery.

A rhinoplasty procedure is carried out under general anaesthetic and can take between 1-2 hours depending on the patient's requirements. The surgery can be performed as a day case, or the patient may be required to stay overnight to recover in one of our MYA hospitals.

As with all surgical procedures, patients are advised to take 7-10 days off work following a rhinoplasty procedure and attend post-operative nurse appointments at one of our MYA clinical hubs. The nose cast will be removed by a MYA nurse around 10 days post-op, depending on the surgeon's advice.

After surgery, patients may experience some pain and discomfort. It is common for there to be some nasal congestion causing difficulty with breathing through the nose during the first week or so. However, this should improve once the nasal passage clears, the cast is removed, and the swelling reduces. Pain relief will also be provided to ease discomfort.

Bruising and swelling will not be restricted to the nose and can affect the whole face, which is normal following rhinoplasty surgeries. Swelling should gradually start to subside after 7-14 days, and patients should expect the changes to the nose to be apparent once the swelling has reduced. The healing will evolve over the following days, weeks, and months but it can take up to 1 year post-op to see the final result.

*There is no guarantee of specific outcomes so individual results and experiences can vary from person to person.

Rhinoplasty recovery time

Every patient’s rhinoplasty recovery timeline is different. MYA recommend a 6-week recovery process, any bruising and swelling should subside between 7-14 days with healing evolving over several weeks and months. It’s important to note that it can take up to 1 year post-op to see the final nose result.

Patients will need to attend post-op checkups with their MYA nurse to monitor their healing. 

After rhinoplasty surgery, patients can expect to return to work between 7-10 days post-op for office-based jobs. If your job is more physically demanding, you may be required to take 2 weeks off work for recovery, this can be discussed with your MYA Nurse.

It’s quite common for there to be some difficulty with breathing through the nose during the first week or so after the operation. This is reduced when the swelling disappears. However, it’s common for the way patients breathe to feel different due to the reduction in the size of the nose.  This shouldn’t cause permanent breathing problems.

In terms of scarring after a rhinoplasty, the location of your scars will depend on the incision site for the type of rhinoplasty you undergo. If you have a closed rhinoplasty, your scars will be completely hidden inside your nose. If you are having an open rhinoplasty, there will be a small scar on the base of your nose between your nostrils, but because it's under your nose, it's hidden from plain sight - it's usually not noticeable unless you get up close to look at it. 

Although you will be eager to see your final results, you must not remove your cast (nasal splint) at any point. Your MYA nurse will remove this under strict surgeon instruction around 7-14 days after your surgery. It can be a bit uncomfortable as you'll be wearing it 24 hours a day but it's a very important part of your care and your end result. The rhinoplasty filler packing will be removed from your nose prior to discharge.