Rhinoplasty

A full assessment of your nose and facial features is carried out with the aid of photographs during the consultation. The surgery is performed whilst you are asleep. Cuts are made inside and occasionally outside the nose and the skin is lifted off the bone and cartilage underneath. A hairline fracture may be made in the nasal bones to allow the change in the shape of the nose. Small pieces of bone and cartilage may be removed from or even added to the nose to smooth out any bumps or dips. At the end of the procedure all incisions are stitched in place. In some cases, extra cartilage is required to obtain the desired shape of the nose. This cartilage is very occasionally taken from your ear or ribs. The surgeon will discuss this with you when planning the operation. Absorbable dressings are placed inside the nose which disappear after a few days.

After the operation you will have some discomfort but any pain tends to be minimal and controlled with simple pain killers. You may have some bruising and swelling around your nose and eyes for 1 week. Your nose will feel blocked and crusty in the first two weeks after surgery. We advise you to only blow your nose very gently in the first week following surgery and sneeze with your mouth open to protect your nose and minimise the chances of bleeding. You will get some blood stained watery discharge from your nose for the first 2 weeks or so and this is normal. We will give you some drops or a spray to help this. It may take up to 3 months for your nose to settle down and for your breathing to be clear again. Try to stay away from dusty and smoky places for that time. The stitches inside your nose will dissolve and will fall out by themselves.

The skin of the nose is very sensitive to the sun following surgery and it is important that you wear sunscreen (factor 30 or more) and a hat for at least 6 months. The nose may feel a little stiff and numb for up to 3 months, particularly around the tip.

Most people need 1 week off work, especially if the work involves heavy lifting or strenuous activity. You should not play any sports where there is a risk of your nose being knocked, for at least 6 weeks.

Occasionally, your nose can bleed after the operation and we may have to put packs back into your nose if bleeding is excessive.

Infection inside the nose is very are but if this occurs it can be serious. The nose gets more and more blocked and sore and you may feel unwell. If this happens, please contact us immediately.

Very rarely the operation may leave a hole in the septum inside the nose and very rarely you may experience some numbness of your teeth, which usually settles with time. Loss of sense of smell may also occur but again is rare.

About 5-10% of patients need further operations in the future to further adjust the shape of the nose.