Cosmetic rhinoplasty - nose reshaping or ‘nose job’

Many people come to us concerned about the size or shape of their nose. Being unhappy with the appearance of your nose can really knock your self-confidence. For many people the answer is a cosmetic rhinoplasty or ‘nose job’. Nose reshaping is currently one of the most popular cosmetic procedures we perform.

Who may benefit from a cosmetic rhinoplasty?

You may be a candidate for nose reshaping:

• If you have a wide nose and don’t like the way it looks
• If you are worried about a nose hump
• If you have a crooked nose, perhaps making breathing through your nose difficult
• If you are concerned about the bulbous tip to your nose
• If you feel that you have a huge nose out of proportion to the rest of your face
• If you have a long nose and feel it doesn’t look quite right

How do I know if cosmetic rhinoplasty is right for me?

The first step is too come to chat to our cosmetic rhinoplasty specialist. He will talk you through your concerns and make sure that surgical nose reshaping is the right choice for you. The surgeon will assess the rest of your face and make sure that a good balance can be achieved between your nose and the rest of your face. He will show you ‘before and after rhinoplasty’ photographs to give you some idea of the results you can expect from a nose job. He will also take digital photographs of your nose to aid in assessment.

You should never rush into making a decision as to whether nose reshaping surgery is the right choice for you and we will never pressurize you in any way.

What results can be achieved with surgical nose reshaping?

The nose may simply be straightened or a nose hump smoothed away. If you are concerned about your nasal tip, this can be improved by recontouring. However, there are limits as to what can be achieved and you cannot simply choose a new nose from a photograph in a magazine. By its very nature nose reshaping surgery is challenging; our rhinoplasty surgeon is excellent but sadly cannot perform miracles!

What happens during cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery?

All surgical nose reshaping is carried out at a private hospital in Bristol. Rhinoplasty surgery requires a general anaesthetic, although minor reshaping of the tip of the nose is sometimes carried out under local anaesthetic. Surgical nose reshaping is usually carried out through a tiny incision at the base of your nose as this gives the best results. The cartilage and bones of your nose are remodelled to the desired shape and the skin redraped over the new framework. If your nose is being ‘built up’, your own bone or cartilage or an implant may be used. One or two tiny sutures complete your nose job. Your nose will be covered by a small plaster splint for a few days following surgical nose reshaping. You will also have soft packs inside the nose which are normally removed the next day. Surgical nose reshaping usually takes between one and two hours.

What is the recovery time after cosmetic rhinoplasty?

Cosmetic rhinoplasty usually requires an overnight stay in hospital. You may feel as if you have a heavy cold for a week or two afterwards but any pain is minimal. A little bleeding is common during the first few days and you may continue to feel some stuffiness for several weeks. Sleeping with a few extra pillows can help with any feeling of congestion. Your nose will feel blocked at first so you will need to breathe through your mouth – lip balm or Vaseline will help stop your lips from cracking.

You can expect to be slightly swollen and bruised for a few weeks after a nose job and will need to take things easy during this period. You will be unable to blow your nose normally for a week or so while the tissues heal. All dressings, splints and stitches should be removed within one week of surgery.

It will be several months at least before the final result of your nose job becomes apparent.

Are there any risks or side effects of cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery?

Generally surgical nose reshaping is a safe and effective procedure. As with any surgery, there are risks of excessive bleeding and infection. You may be sore, bruised and swollen for up to a month, particularly around your eyes. Your sense of smell may be altered and the tip of your nose may be stiff and numb. Cosmetic surgery is not an exact science and there may be a degree of asymmetry after cosmetic rhinoplasty.

How much does a cosmetic rhinoplasty cost?

Our fee for cosmetic rhinoplasty is £3200 – any hospital charges are extra.

For a free initial consultation with a surgeon, please phone me on 0117 3250325