Reshaping your nose
Surgery to reshape the nose (rhinoplasty) is one of the most common procedures in plastic surgery. You can have rhinoplasty to improve the appearance of your nose or remove obstructions in your airway or both.
The nose is living tissue and cannot be reshaped at will, like clay or putty. Frequently, alteration to one part requires adjustments to other parts, and we usually operate on the bridge and tip at the same time to match them.
Nose surgery can enhance your appearance and improve your self-confidence. However, as with all cosmetic procedures, it will not necessarily change your looks to match your ideal or cause other people to treat you differently.
The operation
You are given a general anaesthetic for nose surgery.
The skeleton of the nose is bony above and cartilage below and we access it from within the nostrils. We use a variety of surgical techniques to reshape the nose and to improve the airway, for example, fracturing the bones and suturing and grafting cartilage. The operation is both extremely precise and technically demanding.
After the operation
You usually have nose surgery as a day procedure, although you may be advised to stay in hospital overnight if bleeding has been an issue.
Your nose is held in its new shape by a splint for about 8 days. By that time most people find bruising has subsided enough for them to be comfortable about being seen in public.
You should avoid returning to work for 10 days, longer if you do physical work. You need to restrict vigorous exercise like gym work for at least 4 weeks.
Your specialist will give you full information at your consultation about what to expect.
The end result
Scars are mostly inside the nostrils, but sometimes you will have a scar across the skin bridge (columella) between your nostrils.
You need to reserve judgement on your rhinoplasty for several months, even a year, until your nose is fully healed. The last of the swelling takes many months to settle and reveal the fine details of your nose's new shape.
The outcome for you is a nose that blends naturally into the overall features of your face.
is not an indication of failure. If the nose looks better and natural it may go unnoticed. That is the intention of surgery, not to create a nose that draws attention to itself.
Remember - a rhinoplasty may reshape your nose, but it cannot reshape your life! Your self-confidence, however, is usually improved.
Risk of complications
There is a risk of complications with all surgery. Your specialist will inform you fully at your consultation about any possible complications from nose surgery.
Arrange a consultation
Contact us to arrange a consultation with one of our specialists to discuss how nose reshaping can help you.