Rhinoplasty Overview

Rhinoplasty may be performed for various reasons which belong to either reconstructive or aesthetic ones. Patients wondering how to improve their look and considering rhinoplasty should check whether their reasons are so strong that they really need the surgery.

Below, we present the common reasons for both cosmetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty:

People struggling with any of the problems above may benefit from rhinoplasty. Apart from identifying a nose problem or nose complex, it is also important to determine the expected surgery results so that a surgeon is able to adjust the surgery individually to each patient. The most common reasons for rhinoplasty include nose reshaping, broken nose surgery, ethnic rhinoplasty, and deviated septum procedure. We elaborate on these determinants below. 

Nose reshaping

There are different nose types, very often connected with ethnicity

There are multiple nose shapes and depending on a person, some features characteristic for specific noses may seem unattractive or unnatural, which may be a good reason for nose reshaping and nose correction.

The most common types of noses are:

• Roman nose – its main characteristic is a very prominent bridge;
• Greek nose (called also straight nose) – it has an exceptionally straight bridge without any humps or curves;
• Nubian nose – it is a wide nose with a long bridge, it is characteristic to Africans;
• Bulbous nose – it is associated with a skin disorder called rhinophyma, which is experienced mostly by men;
• Snub nose – it is a small, upturned, and stubby nose;
• Fleshy nose – it has a fleshy tip which is turned downwards and weak cartilage;
• Hawk nose – it has a protruding bridge and its overall shape is described as arched.

Some people have no problems with accepting their noses while for others, having a hooked nose, nose hump or asymmetrical nose is a cause of much distress. People may decide on nostril reduction or nose reduction surgery, nose augmentation, wide nose rhinoplasty, nose straightening, or nose shape surgery. What people look for the most part is how to make your nose smaller or how to get a smaller nose, so the procedure of making it more narrow is the most common type of cosmetic rhinoplasty. 

Broken nose surgery

Breaking is one of the very serious nose problems. A broken nose (called nose fracture or nasal fracture) is a bone or cartilage break. It usually occurs in the nose bridge or in the septum. The broken nose problems usually result from an accident (e.g. while riding a bike, football game, or car accident). The nose reconstruction or nose straightening does not always require surgery, sometimes a surgeon may manually fix and straighten the nose. When the injury is serious, broken nose surgery is inevitable. It should be performed within 14mdays after the accident, but not too soon – the swelling should slightly ease off first.  The surgery allows for repairing nasal septum and realigning the nose.

Ethnic rhinoplasty

Asian rhinoplasty very often involves nose augmentation

Ethnic rhinoplasty involves Asian nose, African nose, or Korean nose job. In general, it changes the look of the nose for people of specific ethnic descent which is characterized by a specific nose shape and size. Ethnic rhinoplasty UK is a different surgery than a traditional rhinoplasty. Very often, ethnic rhinoplasty (e.g. Asian rhinoplasty) involves nose augmentation (adding more nose structure and cartilage) – it corrects a flat nose or flaring nostrils. The best candidates are of African American, Asian (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, Korean), and Latin American origins. The ethnic nose surgery is very difficult and demanding, so it is very important to find such a specialist who is qualified to do such a surgery. 

Deviated septum

A deviated septum is a condition in which nasal septum is displaced. Nasal septum is a thin wall that divides the nasal passages – when it is deviated, it makes one passage smaller, which may reduce the airflow and cause breathing problems. It can also result in excessive nose bleeding or crusting. A rhinoplasty for deviated septum is called septoplasty. When it is combined with a cosmetic nose improvement, it is called septorhinoplasty. Breathing problems caused by a deviated septum belong to medical reasons for rhinoplasty, so deviated septum NHS surgery can be applied for. The condition of a deviated septum may result from a nose injury or be a congenital defect. Regardless of the reason, over time the breathing problems may increase, so the sooner this problem is diagnosed and treated, the better for a patient’s health.  

Deviated septum symptoms

Blocked nostrils, frequent nose bleeding, or persistent sinus infections are the signs of a deviated septum

Generally, the deviated septum symptoms are hard to notice and many people do not even realize they deal with a deviated septum. However, when people notice the following problems, it may be a sign that they need a septoplasty procedure:

• nose bleeding – it happens because the nasal septum is very dry;
• very noisy breathing especially during sleep;
• nostrils obstruction – one or two nostrils are blocked (obstructed), which makes nose breathing very hard
• facial pain – it is said that a deviated septum may cause a one-side pain in the face;
• sleeping on a one side – when people tend to sleep on one side only because breathing on the other one is difficult, it may mean that they have a deviated septum.

Everyone who experiences such conditions as blocked nostrils (or one nostril) which are impossible to treat, frequent nose bleeding or persisting sinus infections should visit a doctor and check whether they have a deviated septum. 

What is the difference between rhinoplasty and septoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a different procedure than septoplasty. Below, we present the main differences and similarities between the two surgeries.

The septoplasty focuses on the nose function and rhinoplasty focuses on it’s look, however, these surgeries may overlap when a patient has a complex problem with the nose. Usually, rhinoplasty patients are informed by a plastic surgeon whether they have a deviated septum, and very frequently, patients decide to fix it as well. On the other hand, when patients require septoplasty, they often add small aesthetic nose changes to address at the same time. Sometimes, patients may be unaware of their septum problems, so it is always a good idea to consult a plastic surgeon before making a decision about nose surgery.

There are two main types of a nose job- open rhinoplasty and closed rhinoplasty

Patients may come across different types of rhinoplasty procedures. In fact, there are 2 main types of nose jobs, which include open and closed rhinoplasty. There is also tip correction or revision rhinoplasty. However, it is a surgeon who recommends specific types of rhinoplasty surgery to patients – the choice of surgery depends on a primary shape and anatomy of the nose, any former accidents or injuries, and the patients’ expectations, also the female and male nose job may look differently. Alternatively, there are non-surgical types of rhinoplasty procedures. We describe all the main nose surgery types below. 

Open rhinoplasty

Open rhinoplasty, also called external rhinoplasty, is the most common nose surgery. What is open rhinoplasty? It is a surgery which requires an incision on the columella. Columella is a soft tissue which separates nostrils. An incision is very small and is done along the columella width. It allows for skin lifting, as a result of which a surgeon clearly sees the whole nose structure including the bone and cartilage. Open septorhinoplasty and open rhinoplasty procedure are always chosen in a revision rhinoplasty. In addition, open rhinoplasty technique is used when a nose change is significant and involves much ingeration.

The advantages of open rhinoplasty surgery include:

• a surgeon is able to see and analyze the whole nose anatomy, thanks to which he can see even the minimal asymmetry or abnormalities and perform the surgery very meticulously;
• the surgery results are astonishing and even if patients want a minimal change, it can be achieved thanks to the wide access to the nose;
• the open techniques enables performing the surgery with the greatest precision;
• surgeons may apply cartilage grafting technique.

Closed rhinoplasty does not require outside incisions only incisions within the nostrils

Open rhinoplasty scar is the main drawback of this method. However, patients should realize that when a surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon, the incision site is made in such a way that over time the scar is almost invisible to the naked eye. The second disadvantage which is commonly listed is open rhinoplasty swelling, which is more intense than in closed rhinoplasty – yet, it is temporary and should not be a determinant for choosing the surgery method. 

Closed rhinoplasty

Closed rhinoplasty is also called endonasal rhinoplasty. What is a closed rhinoplasty? This nose surgery does not require outside incisions, it is enough to make incisions within the nostrils. The surgeon makes cuts in both the left and right nostril. As a result, closed rhinoplasty procedure is less invasive than the open method, the closed rhinoplasty recovery is also much shorter. This method is used for nose reshaping and minor nose corrections. The main advantages of closed rhinoplasty surgery are:

• it involves minimal recovery;
• the incisions are made inside the nose, so there are no scars at all;
• it is a great option for minor nose changes, e.g. nose tip correction;
• there is less post-op swelling than in open rhinoplasty
• it is more affordable than other surgical nose procedures.

The main concern of closed rhinoplasty is the limited room for performing the surgery, so if it turns out that the surgery scope extends, the surgeon needs to switch to an open rhinoplasty. Thus, it is always a great idea to consult a plastic surgeon and describe the expectations or any present medical conditions in detail so that patients may be advised on the most effective rhinoplasty type for them. 

Open vs closed rhinoplasty

The table below presents the most important aspects of open rhinoplasty vs closed rhinoplasty.

Nose tip surgery

Nose tip surgery is also known as mini nose job – it is a procedure addressing only the tip of the nose, so it does not require much invasion into nose structures.

The nose tip rhinoplasty:

• enhances the nose proportion
• improves nose symmetry
• lifts a droopy nose tip
• sculpts a wide or bulbous nose tip
• allows for nose tip reduction and nostril reduction
• straightens the curve.

In the nose tip surgery, a surgeon leaves the bone structure intact. He addresses only cartilage, which is reshaped or removed from the nose tip. The tip can also be refined or lifted. The fact that the surgery does not affect the whole nose, the recovery and healing time are relatively fast, also the possibility of risks is lower. Nose tip procedure is not for everyone – a surgeon may decide to do such a

Revision rhinoplasty belongs to the most complicated and demanding plastic surgeries

procedure when patients’ nose anatomy allows for tip refinement, and they have no other problems with the nose than a tip. 

Revision rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty is said to be the most complicated and demanding plastic surgery out of all. Here, the surgeon’s skills and experience play the first fiddle. What is revision rhinoplasty surgery? It is a nose procedure done for patients who have already undergone one rhinoplasty surgery and are not satisfied with the effects.

The difficulty of the rhinoplasty revision surgery stems from the following:

• patients have been disappointed with the results once, so it might repeat after the second surgery; hence, it is of utmost importance that patients have realistic expectations towards the procedure and understand that the range of nose alternations is limited and depends on nose anatomy;
• the scar after primary rhinoplasty may influence the rhinoplasty revision and limit the surgery scope;
• in many cases, the revision rhinoplasty requires using a cartilage to fill in the cartilage deficiency or replace the structures damaged during the first surgery;
• deviated septum correction is a sophisticated procedure for revision surgery.

Revision rhinoplasty outcomes are not so predictable as in the primary procedure. The high-class plastic surgeon should make patients aware that the final effects cannot be guaranteed. It is also very common that plastic surgeons refuse to perform a secondary nose job for people who were operated by someone else – it is because the surgeon who performs the primary rhinoplasty knows the nose anatomy and knows what has been changed. Obviously, not everyone wants to have a second rhinoplasty done by a surgeon whose work is not satisfactory, so it is essential to find a trust-worthy, experienced, and well-qualified plastic surgeon. In other words, it is a high-standard clinic and professional surgeon that should be the main determinants for the surgery, not the revision rhinoplasty cost.

Non surgical rhinoplasty

There is a possibility of slightly change the nose shape with the use of dermal fillers – this procedure is called a nonsurgical nose job

Non surgical rhinoplasty is an alternative to surgical rhinoplasty. This procedure is known as a liquid nose job and 15-minute nose job. What is non surgical rhinoplasty actually? Well, a non surgical nose job is a procedure of injecting dermal fillers to change the shape of the nose. Such a procedure gives the effects which last between 6 months to even 3 years. A non-surgical rhinoplasty is a great solution for people who want to make small nose alterations, e.g. smoothing the nose bump, but want to avoid a surgery. The substance that is used is usually hyaluronic acid or botox. It is injected underneath the skin to the area which needs a change. The effects that can be achieved by non surgical nose reshaping include smoothing the bump, making the nose tip more prominent or lifted, and adding volume to the nose. Patients should realize that nose reshaping without surgery does not give spectacular effects, but rather guarantees a natural, small correction. The advantages of this procedure include reducing the risk connected with anaesthesia, quick healing and recovery, reversibility and a low cost. Lastly, patients should be careful about choosing a place to get a non-surgical rhinoplasty – it is a cosmetic procedure, but still should be done by a certified plastic surgeon. 

Rhinoplasty surgery is an elective procedure, so it does not need to be medically needed. Generally, any person who is unhappy with the nose look may consider rhinoplasty. Yet, there are some criteria which make an ideal rhinoplasty candidate. They include:

• patients have health problems that can be treated by rhinoplasty and their surgery is medically motivated;
• patients feel uncomfortable with the look of their noses;
• patients have realistic expectations and realize that a surgeon is not able to meet  any fantasy, but rather adjusts the size and shape of the nose so that it looks slim, natural and symmetrical;
• patients meet age criteria – the surgery is recommended to adults or late teens whose noses have stopped growing;
• patients understand the involved risks and agree to follow pre-op and post-op instructions.

Sometimes there are some contradictions that can disqualify the patient from the rhinoplasty surgery

On the other hand, there are also factors which make people bad rhinoplasty candidates and when met, should provoke a more deep consideration of the surgery. People may be disqualified from the rhinoplasty surgery when they meet the following contraindications to surgery:

• their noses lack structural integrity;
• they have unrealistic expectations towards the surgery results;
• they do not have a problem with the nose look, but are encouraged to do the surgery by someone else;
• they do not meet age criteria – usually a surgeon is impossible for boys under 15 and girls under 14;
• they want to have “ideal nose”;
• they have some psychological problems or depression;
• they haven’t been qualified for the surgery by other surgeons;
• they have such health problems as diabetes, lung or heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, severe allergy, arthritis, bleeding disorder or when women are pregnant.

The contraindications for surgery above are very serious and patients should never keep them from the doctor, otherwise, a surgery may be ineffective and cause serious health problems. Also, each patient is asked to perform medical tests before the surgery so that a surgeon is sure that the patient’s health allows for performing the surgery. These medical tests include blood group, glucose, anti-HCV and anti-HIV antibodies, urinalysis, CBC, electrolytes, coagulation parameters, and creatinine. 

The rhinoplasty surgery is performed under general anesthesia

The procedure for rhinoplasty usually lasts about 90-180 minutes. It’s duration depends on the scope of the rhinoplasty operation procedure. The surgery is always performed under general anaesthesia, so patients are monitored for oxygen saturation and cardiac rhythm throughout the surgery. Also, apart from a plastic surgeon, an anaesthesiologist is present all the time. After applying the anaesthesia, a plastic surgeon starts performing the rhinoplasty procedure. How is rhinoplasty done?

There are 3 steps of the procedure:

Step 1 – making incisions – the place of incisions depending the type of nose surgery. In open rhinoplasty, a surgeon makes incisions across the columella and in closed rhinoplasty, the incisions are made inside the nostrils. The cuts allow for raising the skin and getting to the nose bone and nose cartilage. 

Step 2 – making changes to the nose – when a nose is too big, the surgeon removes the bone or cartilage to make it smaller. When it is too small, the surgeon adds a bone, which makes the nose bigger. If a surgery requires the correction of a deviated septum, a surgeon does it after changing the size and shape of the nose.

Step 3 – closing incisions – after making all the alterations, a surgeon redraps the skin and tissue of the nose and closes the incisions with the stitches. When the nostril size is changed, the incisions are put also in the nostrils creases. A surgeon may use dissolvable stitches which are naturally absorbed over time or regular staples which must be removed a week after the surgery. At the end, a surgeon usually puts a bandage and splint on the nose to protect it and enhance the healing. When a surgery is performed under general anaesthesia, patients spend a night in the clinic and are monitored during that time. Before leaving the clinic, patients have a control visit and get all necessary instructions for the recovery period. 

The average rhinoplasty recovery takes around 3-4 weeks, however, the final results come even within a year

Regarding the early stage of the rhinoplasty recovery, the most characteristic symptoms are swelling and bruising. It may appear in the mouth, nose or eyes area and usually it lasts for a few weeks. Patients may also feel pain in the nose, have a headache and have some breathing problems. How long does it take to recover from rhinoplasty? The average nose job recovery time is 3-4 weeks, however the final results come even within a year. Patients should follow the following tips to get the most of their rhinoplasty recovery time:

• sleep with a head raised (on 2-3 pillows) for a few days after the surgery
• get enough sleep, taking as much rest as needed during the day
• take at least 1 week off work
• go on frequent walks and increase their duration day by day
• avoid tiring physical activities and exercises (e.g. jogging, fitness, weight lifting) for at least 2-3 weeks
• refrain from driving for 2-4 days after the surgery
• avoid blowing the nose for a week, in case of sneezing it is recommend to open the mouth
• avoid rubbing the nose for 8 weeks
• try not to wear clothes that are put through the head for a week
• do not expose the nose to the sun
• do not wear glasses for 4 weeks, instead choose contact lenses or use a tap to attach the glasses to the forehead
• take all the prescribed or recommended medications and consult with the surgeon taking any other meds.

To avoid nose job scars, patients should take proper care of the incisions. They should wash the incision sites with water and soap gently. If a surgeon puts a nose splint, patients should come for a follow-up visit as required so that a surgeon can take it off. Regarding bruising and swelling, patients may alleviate discomfort by putting ice packs on the nose each hour for 10-20 minutes for 3 days after the procedure or until the discomfort subsides. 

How to reduce rhinoplasty swelling?

Swelling and bruising are normal after rhinoplasty surgery

Rhinoplasty swelling and bruising is a characteristic aspect of rhinoplasty recovery. The good news is that it subsides within 2 weeks. Even if swelling lasts longer, it does not prevent patients from going back to work and daily activities. Regarding rhinoplasty bruising how long does it last? Generally, bruising it is not so troublesome as it may seem. Bruising usually appears in the eye area and should disappear within 10 days. The intensity of bruising and swelling depends on the rhinoplasty technique, scope of the surgery, the body reaction (skin condition, circulation), post-op care and medications (some meds may increase swelling, so they should be ceased for the recovery time). The other significant aspect is smoking. Smokers tend to have much bigger problems during the recovery and their healing may be disturbed. So, how to reduce swelling after rhinoplasty?

• Refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol both before and after the surgery
• Follow all the post-op instructions
• Do not take medications which cause blood thinning (they include Ibuprofen and Aspirin)
• Use ice packs to reduce swelling
• Keep the head raised during the day and night
• Take recommended herbals and supplements
• Be patient, swelling and bruising is a standard stage of the recovery and will naturally resolve when the body heals.

Rhinoplasty aftercare is an important stage after the surgery and the patient should follow all the doctor’s recommendations

Rhinoplasty aftercare is an important stage of nose reshaping. When patients wake up after the surgery, they may feel weak and distracted, the memory may also be affected, but after 1-2 days, these conditions disappear. Patients may also have problems with breathing through the nose, so it is advised to breathe through the mouth at the beginning. Rhinoplasty aftercare instructions concern mainly the incisions and nose hygiene. Patients should keep dressing till the control visit – a surgeon may put a splint and bandages to keep the nose in shape and patients should not take it off themselves. The care and cleaning of the incisions is very important and influences the future scarring. A properly cared for wound should leave a minimal scar that would be hard to notice by others. It is very important to take care of the operated area from the very beginning because the first days of aftercare rhinoplasty influence the final results. Returning to work is possible after a week and returning to exercise routine is possible after 4-6 weeks, however regarding the recovery and aftercare, patients should observe their body and general sensation and adjust the recovery pace to themselves. 

It is really important to choose a qualified surgeon for the surgery, then the results may be really amazing and life changing

The rhinoplasty results last for a lifetime and even if they are not visible at the beginning, it is worth waiting for them. Just after the surgery, patients may even feel unhappy with rhinoplasty results, but it is not a moment to assess them. The first signs of nose job results are visible about a week after the procedure when a surgeon takes out the stitches and splint. The noticeable changes may include the tip change or a straight nose without a bump. Yet, good rhinoplasty results get exposed week by week. When the swelling is gone, patients have a real image of the effects that they are expected – so we can see the first real rhinoplasty results after 1 month. It must be mentioned that patients can return to their everyday life and all activities even earlier than a month after the operation and shaping the nose afterwards is a separate process. Rhinoplasty results after 3 months are even more astonishing. In most cases, at this rhinoplasty results time patients take the after surgery photo and compare it with the photo taken before the surgery. If patients see bad rhinoplasty results at this stage, they should contact a doctor because generally, in the 3rd month, the effects are very defined and close to the final look. Finally, it can be hard to imagine but the rhinoplasty results timeline lasts even a year or longer. Thus, patients wondering rhinoplasty how long to see results need to be aware of the fact that they need to wait some time to enjoy the final effects of rhinoplasty.

It is normal that patients wonder about nose jobs gone wrong. Nose correction is a regular surgery, so obviously it involves the risk of rhinoplasty side effects and rhinoplasty complications. Each patient is informed about any possibility of rhinoplasty risks and complications before the surgery and then signs the consent for the operation. Of course, as with other plastic surgeries, the complications after rhinoplasty and rhinoplasty side effects are very rare, yet they are worth mentioning so that any patient noticing them can react quickly. So what are the risks of rhinoplasty? 

Rhinoplasty like any other plastic surgery involves some risk of side effects complications

The rhinoplasty risks and complications include:

• excessive bleeding
• infections
• complications connected with anaesthesia causing bad nose jobs
• impaierd healing and scarring
• difficulty with breathing through the nose
• long-term or even permanent numbness in the nose area
• persistent discoloration and swelling
• septal perforation
• problems with the nose look (e.g. an uneven nose)
• the need for a revision surgery.

Below, we present more details about the most frequent rhinoplasty side effects complications which appear when a nose job gone wrong.

Rhinoplasty infection

Infection is a risk of any surgery, and it refers mainly to wound infection. The infection after rhinoplasty may appear within 2-4 days after the surgery.

Patients should be particularly careful when they notice the following rhinoplasty infection symptoms:

• a fever higher than 38,8 °C
• worrying redness in the operated area
• increasing pain in the operated area
• unpleasant smell coming from the operated area.

Usually, it is enough to take prescribed antibiotics to treat infection in nose after rhinoplasty. But patients should not ignore any worrying signs, if they do, it may be too late for taking antibiotics and a surgeon may open the wounds and put drains and decide to hospitalize a patient. A plastic surgeon always makes patients aware of the signs of infection after rhinoplasty which they must pay attention to.

Nose bleeding after rhinoplasty

Nose bleeding after rhinoplasty happens really often, if the patient cannot deal with it, the doctor should be contacted

Sometimes, blood vessels in the nose get damaged during the surgery even if a surgeon does everything to minimize vessel injury. Such damage results in nose bleeding after rhinoplasty surgery. What may also cause rhinoplasty bleeding after operation is simple sneezing – when patients forget to open the mouth and sneeze as usual or blow their nose, it often results in excessive bleeding. Patients should also avoid blood thinning medications e.g. aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen because they increase the risk of rhinoplasty bleeding. What patients should use is nasal saline spray and nasal topical decongestants. If patients cannot deal with bleeding and notice their nose still bleeding after rhinoplasty, they should contact the doctor as soon as possible.

Breathing difficulties

Rhinoplasty breathing problems may occur after the surgery, especially in breathing through the nose. It is because the nasal valve is pinched to the smaller angle. The feeling of difficult breathing is usually temporary and becomes much decreased a week after the surgery. It should go back to normal within 12 months after rhinoplasty. If it doesn’t, patients should consult a surgeon and find a reason for this discomfort. Also, patients who have septoplasty, a surgery which aims at improving breathing through the nose, might have difficulties with breathing at the beginning, but it should get much better after about 8 weeks.

Problems with sense of smell after rhinoplasty procedure

The feeling of difficult breathing may happen after the surgery as well. It is usually temporary, and it gets normal within some time after the surgery

Patients usually experience a bad smell in nose after rhinoplasty. Taste also may be temporarily affected. The reason for the nose smell problems is nose swelling. When swelling increases, the scent molecules find it very difficult to go through the nasal passage where there are sensory neurons. Hence, the brain doesn’t get information about the smell. The impeded taste is caused by the lack of smell because these 2 senses are very linked. The bad smell after rhinoplasty stays as long as the swelling continues, so when swelling is gone, patients notice that their smell in nose after rhinoplasty improves. It is also interesting that the sense of smelling tends to improve and become more sensitive and distinct. The condition of a long-term lack of smell is extremely rare, but it may happen after rhinoplasty and patients should be aware of this possibility as well. 

Scarring

Scarring after rhinoplasty is a characteristic of open rhinoplasty. Closed rhinoplasty involves cuts within the nostrils, so there are no scars outside the nose, the open rhinoplasty on the other hand involves cuts along the natural nostrils curve. Rhinoplasty scar tissue should heal well and over time, it should be hardly visible. However, there are two aspects that may help or impede scarring – these are a surgeon’s skills and a patient’s care of the incision sites. The most common mistake that patients make is exposing the nose to the sunlight – it may deepen the scar colour and make it much more visible than it actually should be. 

Aesthetic

It is important to have realistic expectations toward the procedure otherwise patient may be disappointed after the surgery

What patients expect from a cosmetic rhinoplasty is a dreamt look of the nose. It is normal that some patients feel unsatisfied with the final nose shape or size. To avoid rhinoplasty bad results, patients should have realistic expectations towards the outcome of the surgery, explain the expectations to the surgeon, and discuss with him the results that can be achieved. Patients should also remember that the final effects appear within a 1-1,5 year, so they need to wait with the complaint till their nose gets a final shape. 

Nose cartilage damage

Nose cartilage damage or septum damage are the risks possible for mainly closed rhinoplasty. Yet, in primary surgery, they happen extremely rarely. Such damage may result in asymmetry, irregularities, crura collapse or depressions.

Revision rhinoplasty risks

A revision rhinoplasty specialist must inform every patient about the risks that may be caused by a surgery. Generally, revision rhinoplasty risks are more serious than primary rhinoplasty risks and may happen more often. Thus, patients should find the best revision rhinoplasty surgeon in their region to make sure their health is protected.

The risks of revision rhinoplasty involve:

• the adverse reaction to medications
• anaesthesia complications
• prolonged swelling and bruising
• the loss of smell
• the necrosis or discoloration of the skin
• infections
• excessive bleeding
• scarring
• poor healing
• dissatisfying effects.

Revision rhinoplasty carries more possible side effects than standard nose surgery

The factor that may significantly increase the possibility and intensity of complications is smoking. Smoking influences the surgery, recovery, and healing very negatively and for the revision rhinoplasty, when the risk is already increased, surgeons are likely to refuse to perform the operation. So, secondary rhinoplasty candidates are advised to quit smoking for at least 4 weeks before and after the surgery. What is also important, when patients having had a revision surgery notice any worrying symptoms, they should immediately contact a doctor to make sure that healing is not disturbed. Finally, a dissatisfaction with the effects is the greatest psychological risk of revision rhinoplasty. Patients should not expect an ideal nose, they should rather focus on natural realistic effects and be aware that a surgeon aims at achieving a proportional, symmetrical, even, natural nose instead of fulfilling unrealistic whims that patients have. 

Is rhinoplasty safe?

How safe is rhinoplasty? Rhinoplasty is safe plastic surgery. The range of complications may seem wide, however, the serious side effects happen extremely rarely. There are also 3 important factors which may increase the safety of the surgery. The first one is a

If the surgery is performed by an experienced doctor in the right hospital or clinic it is a safe procedure

surgeon’s experience. The more qualified and trained surgeon, the safer a surgery is. Patients should also pay attention to the specialization of a surgeon – some doctors specialize in reconstructive procedures while others in cosmetic nose jobs – so it is important to choose a surgeon who has a broad experience. We advise that patients verify a chosen surgeon by looking for reviews and information on the Internet. Secondly, the safety of rhinoplasty may decrease when the surgery gets complicated, e.g. an open full rhinoplasty is less safe than only a tip correction or revision rhinoplasty involves more risks than a primary surgery. And lastly, a patient’s health condition and medical history may make the surgery and recovery more safe or less safe. Hence, it is necessary to inform a surgeon about any medical present and past conditions, e.g. diabetes, high cholesterol or haemophilia. Some disorders may even disqualify a patient from rhinoplasty due to too much risk. So, after all, is rhinoplasty safe? Yes it is very safe only when a patient finds a qualified surgeon and is totally honest regarding the health condition with him.

The main factor which has an influence on the price of the surgery is the type of rhinoplasty

The rhinoplasty cost depends on many factors. The main one is the procedure type. Usually, the cheapest is tip correction, the open and closed full nose job prices are said to be the average ones and revision rhinoplasty is the most expensive because of being very complicated. Secondly, the nose job price varies depending on what is included in the nose job cost. The price components usually are: a surgery, anaesthesia and anaesthesiologist care, hospitalization, medical tests, medications, and a surgeon’s fee. It may be noticed that a surgeon’s reputation may significantly influence the nose surgery cost. So if patients want to be operated by the best surgeons, they almost always need to pay more. So how much does a nose job cost on average? The American Society of Plastic surgeons provides statistics saying that the average rhinoplasty price in 2019 was 5409 USD or 3915 GBP. This cost involves only the surgery without anaesthesia or hospitalization, so the actual expenses are always higher. The rhinoplasty cost depends greatly on the location also. There are countries where living cost and surgeons’ fees are relatively low which is reflected in the rhinoplasty cost. And on the other hand, there are countries where such costs are high, so naturally, the surgery prices go up. 

Nose job cost in the UK

How much is a nose job UK? – It is one of the most frequent questions among our readers. The rhinoplasty UK prices differ from clinic to clinic. Of course, what we describe now is a cosmetic rhinoplasty cost UK which is always performed in a private clinic and needs to be fully paid for. The full nose job cost UK starts from £4200, the maximum nose surgery UK cost may reach £8000. The location of a clinic is important – rhinoplasty London is believed to be the most costly because the best rhinoplasty surgeons UK works in the clinics there. The cost depends also on the surgery type and used technique, so the best way to know the cost of rhinoplasty UK is to find a reliable clinic, call or visit them and ask how much is rhinoplasty UK in this specific place. Only then can patients get to know the real cost of the surgery and its components.

Rhinoplasty on NHS

Rhinoplasty as a purely cosmetic surgery is never counted as the NHS rhinoplasty. However, in terms of rhinoplasty as a reconstructive procedure, patients are likely to have it done within the NHS. How to get a nose job on the NHS? Well, there must be a medical reason for that, e.g. patients who have difficulties with breathing through the nose, problems with the sinuses, frequent headaches, or when the nose is deformed as a congenital defect, they can have septoplasty and rhinoplasty NHS. When patients feel they can get rhinoplasty NHS, they should contact a GP who will present all the rhinoplasty NHS criteria and will refer them to a plastic surgeon working within the NHS and a psychologist. When such a plastic surgeon and psychologist agree that rhinoplasty will significantly improve patients’ physical and mental health and social life, patients are put on the rhinoplasty NHS waiting list. The alternative to nose job NHS would be private insurance coverage. Patients who have such insurance may try to get the surgery partially or fully covered, yet they still need to prove that rhinoplasty is needed for medical and health reasons.

Deviated septum surgery NHS

Rhinoplasty as is a cosmetic surgery this is why it is not possible on NHS, but septoplasty is very often performed within the NHS

Deviated septum surgery is a very popular surgery done within the NHS. Generally, nasal septum is a structure dividing the nose into two parts – left and right. At the front, septum is made from cartilage and at the back, it is made of bone. Septoplasty NHS is a surgery that straightens the deviated septum. In fact, people almost never have an ideally straight septum, but when it is too deviated, it may cause health problems. The deviated septum surgery NHS is possible for adults and children. When this condition is congenital, it is very frequent that the surgery for blocked nose NHS is done to children, but it may be also caused by some trauma or accident, then it should be operated shortly afterwards before serious health problems appear. The deviated septum surgery cost UK may be quite high, yet septoplasty cost should not be a problem as the surgery is widely available within the NHS or insurance. 

Rhinoplasty revision cost

Revision rhinoplasty is usually the most expensive type of nose job surgery

Revision rhinoplasty cost is basically high. This surgery is very complicated and needs broad experience, training and skills from a surgeon. What is also important, not every plastic surgeon agrees to perform this surgery as it is one of the most complex and demanding plastic procedures. How much does revision rhinoplasty cost? The average cost is 9000 BP but the prices may reach even 12 000 GBP. It is very expensive, but there are some alternatives. Patients may get the revision rhinoplasty on the NHS when there is a medical reason for that (e.g. breathing problems) or try to get it covered by a private insurance. Also, when the primary rhinoplasty results show that a surgeon made some mistakes, it may be possible to get the revision surgery covered by the clinic. Finally, when a revision rhinoplasty is performed for further cosmetic changes, patients may look for the surgery abroad where the costs are much lower.

Rhinoplasty abroad allows saving lots of money. Prices abroad vary, but they are usually much cheaper than in the UK or USA

Rhinoplasty is a costly surgery, no wonder people look for some cheaper alternatives. Getting a cheap nose job abroad is a great solution which allows for saving much money. The effective and high-quality surgery boils down to finding the best rhinoplasty surgeon – there are great specialists across the world, so a country is not an indicator. There are such countries as Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Thailand where patients may find one of the best cosmetic surgeons in the world and at the same time spend much less money than they would spend in a home country. 

What’s also important, patients can get secured for their medical trip abroad, which makes their trip much safer. Clinic Hunter & AXA Partners have created a travel insurance for medical procedures abroad dedicated to medical tourists.

Rhinoplasty Poland

Rhinoplasty Poland is a very popular cosmetic surgery among Polish and foreign patients. What makes Poland so popular among medical tourists is offering the top specialists of nose job Poland. Polish plastic surgeons are said to be one of the most trained and qualified specialists in the world. The quality of rhinoplasty there is undoubtedly higher than average and at the same time nose job Poland price are highly competitive. The average cost of full rhinoplasty in Poland is 2500 GBP. What is more, Poland is very developed in terms of medical tourism and the private clinics offer a complex service, organisation and help for foreign patients. Finally, Poland is a very attractive touristic region, so choosing this country as a treatment destination makes a great opportunity to see unique places, cities, and landscapes. 

Rhinoplasty Turkey

Turkey is a great destination not only for summer holidays but for plastic surgery as well

Having the nose job Turkey has become really popular. Turkish healthcare standards in the 21st century have raised greatly and now, there are hundreds of private clinics, hospitals, and health complexes offering modern, advanced, and top-quality treatments. At the same time, nose job Turkey price is one of the lowest in the world, so it is definitely a great option for people wanting to save as much money as possible. It is a great idea to combine rhinoplasty Turkey with summer holidays – the all inclusive packages of Turkish travel agencies are amazingly luxurious, attractive and affordable. There are also agencies offering the medical travel organisation covering plastic surgery and touristic vacation, so Turkey is a location that should be definitely considered by people looking for plastic surgery abroad.

Rhinoplasty reviews are a perfect way to check whether a clinic and surgeon is professional and trust-worthy. The chance of checking real experiences and thoughts of former patients can give people a real image of what to expect from a chosen clinic and surgery. 

Patients usually seek rhinoplasty before and after photos to check what effects they may expect. What we advise is asking for a nose job before and after photos in specific clinics. It is more and more popular that clinics and surgeons share nose jobs before and after pictures on their websites, but if they aren’t, patients should simply ask whether they can see some photos – it is very likely that patients will get some sample photos of the former patients. 

Nose is a body part that is always exposed, no wonder people wish their nose is aesthetic and proportional. In fact, when the nose size and shape is changed, the whole face looks differently. Rhinoplasty is a popular plastic surgery done for cosmetic or medical reasons. The surgery itself is safe, yet people must be aware of pre-op and post-op conditions and steps so that they can get well-prepared for the procedure and achieve the best results. Rhinoplasty is possible on the NHS but only for medical reasons. Otherwise, it must be done privately and fully paid for. What we recommend is comparing the prices for rhinoplasty in a home country and abroad and choose the most affordable and at the same time good-quality clinic. The Clinic Hunter team helps everyone wanting surgery abroad, so do not hesitate to contact us once you consider traveling for the surgery. 

Get the insurance for treatment abroad:

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Britten, Samuel. “What Is the Difference Between Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty?” Medium, Medium, 13 Mar. 2019, medium.com/@harleystreetentclinic/what-is-the-difference-between-rhinoplasty-and-septoplasty-f35121ed0f59.

Gardner, Stephanie S. “Rhinoplasty Surgery (Nose Job): Purpose, Procedure, Risks, Recovery.” WebMD, WebMD, 21 Jan. 2020, www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-nose-job-rhinoplasty#1.

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Richard Chaffoo, MD. “Understanding Revision Rhinoplasty and Why Patients Seek out This Procedure.” American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 1 Feb. 2019, www.plasticsurgery.org/news/blog/understanding-revision-rhinoplasty-and-why-patients-seek-out-this-procedure.

Shahram Salemy, MD FACS, and MD Anthony Terrasse. “Rhinoplasty.” American Society of Plastic Surgeons, www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/rhinoplasty.