Rhinoplasty

Prior to starting the procedure, the surgeon will need to proceed with the anaesthesia process. There are number of different types of anaesthesia, however, for rhinoplasty general anaesthesia will be used primarily. In most cases this will be administered through a small tube inserted in a vein, or by inhaling it. Due to the effects of the anaesthesia, after the surgery you might feel somewhat groggy.

As a result, it is highly advisable to pre-arrange transportation prior to surgery, as you will not be in a conducive condition to drive.

Once the anaesthesia has been applied, the surgeon will then proceed with placement of the incisions. If your Rhinoplasty surgery is a closed procedure, then the incisions will be hidden within your nose. Alternatively, if it is an open procedure, then it will likely be made across the columella.

This is where the nostrils are separated by a small strip of tissue. Upon making the incisions, it will allow the surgeon to restructure the shape of the nose. The skin covering the cartilage and nasal bones will also likely be raised.

Nose structure reshaping

Once again, this part of the Rhinoplasty procedure will differ depending on the patient’s expectations and goals. For example, if the patient is looking to reduce the size of their nose, then this might be achieved by removing cartilage or bone. However, other goals might require cartilage to be added.

If this is the case, then the surgeon will more than likely take the cartilage from the middle of the nose (known as the septum). In rarer instances, the cartilage can also be removed from the ear or rib.

Furthermore, if deviation of the septum is required, then breathing can be improved by straightening the inside of the nose.

At this point of the Rhinoplasty procedure, the restructuring of your nose should be in its desired shape – as per the goals and expectations discussed. As a result, the surgeon will now proceed to close the incisions.  In some cases, further incisions might be made to alter the size of the nostrils, which will be placed in the natural creases.

Once surgery is complete and you have arranged transportation to take you home, you will need to begin the recovery process. First and foremost, you might experience congestion within your nose due to packaging inside both nose pathways and also with some swelling of the tissue inside your nose. As a result, to reduce the risks of swelling and bleeding, it is best to rest in bed. Try to raise your head higher than your chest to reduce strain. It is encouraged to sleep in a propped up position to reduce swelling, ideally 3 / 4 pillows to be used during sleep.

Although it can depend on the patient’s individual circumstances, you will have your internal dressings in place for between 1-7 days. You will have your internal dressing as explained above which will be removed 24hrs after. Most of time you will also have an aluminium splint around your nose from the outside. This will be removed a week after.  Moreover, in order to give your nose additional support and protection, a splint will be attached for approximately 1 week. For the first few days that follow surgery, you might suffer from a drainage of mucus or slight bleeding.

If this is the case, a drip pad may be attached by the surgeon. There are some additional steps that you can take to prevent the risks of swelling and bleeding, which we have listed below.

• Do not attempt to perform any demanding exercise activities such as running or weight lifting for at least 2 weeks.
• If your nose is in receipt of a bandage, if possible take a bath rather than a shower.
• Circumvent blowing your nose
• Extended periods of extreme facial expressions (for example laughing) should also be avoided.
• In terms of diet, it would be a good idea to eat sufficient quantities of fruit and vegetables, as these contain good amounts of fibre. This will ensure that you avoid constipation, which would ultimately lead to strain.
• When it comes to brushing your teeth, gentle movements will ensure that your upper lip does not experience rapid movements
• Don’t wear clothing that needs to be put over your head (for example a jumper).

Although Rhinoplasty surgery is an extremely common procedure, there will also be some potential risks to consider. The surgeon will of course go through these risks with you during your consultation. These risks include:

• Possible infection of the affected area
• Delays in healing of the wound
• Slight numbness or pain of the skin
• Discoloration or swelling of the skin
• Issues pertaining to breathing

There are a range of factors that will determine how much Rhinoplasty surgery costs. In a nutshell, costings are based your goals, expectations and the complexity of the required surgery.

Although there is no hard and fast rule as to how long it will take you to fully recover from Rhinoplasty, it is best to reserve a week from your usual commitments (for example employment). Each day of resting will make you feel somewhat better, with most people claiming to be fully operational after a week. However, it might take some months before the swelling around the nose is fully reduced.

No. Whilst Rhinoplasty is typically concerned with changing the shape of the nose, it might also be performed to improve nasal breathing. On the contrary, Septoplasty is purely utilized with the aim of improving breathing. It is most commonly achieved by straightening the wall in the nose.

When a full Rhinoplasty or Septoplasty is performed, clients are asked to stay overnight just for observation. In the morning of the following day, you will be able to go home.

In terms of the operation itself, you should not feel any pain due to the anaesthesia that is administered. However, during your immediate recovery, there will be a period of discomfort which will be well controlled with minimal painkiller tablets. This is mostly due to swelling and bruising around the affected area. In most cases, you should experience a full recover after about a week.

The amount of time it takes to complete Rhinoplasty surgery will depend on a number of factors- notably the complexity of the operation. If small changes are required, then this generally takes between 1-2 hours. However, if more extensive changes are needed, then this can take up to 3 hours.