Nose Reshapping (Rhinoplasty)

Your nose is the most prominent feature of your face and it is possible to modify the shape and size of the nose if you feel self-conscious about the appearance of your nose. The operation is called Rhinoplasty, colloquially known known as a ‘nose-job’.

There are a combination of changes which can be made to improve the appearance of the nose which include reshaping the bridge of the nose (usually reducing a hump), refining the tip of the nose, improving the projection of the tip, shortening the nose or narrowing wide nostrils. The aim is to shape the nose so that it is in balance with the proportions of the face.

What does the surgery involve?

The shape of the nose is determined by a framework of cartilages and bones. Small cuts are made inside the nostrils and usually across the central strut (columella) to access the framework and reshape it. At the end of the operation a small splint and some tapes will be positioned and packs are inserted into the nostrils. This is done to support the new shape of the nose while it sets.

Do I have to have rhinoplasty if I want to change the shape of my nose?

The shape of the nose can also be altered by injecting dermal fillers. This can be effective in altering or disguising the contour of the nose without resorting to surgery. Fillers are not permanent and this may be an advantage for patients who are not so sure about having the nose permanently reshaped.

A surgical cut is made along the hairline in the temple, and continued down the front of the ear, around behind the ear and onto the scalp behind the ear. The skin of the cheek and neck is separated from the underlying layers. Once this is done a deeper layer in the cheek (‘SMAS’) is tightened with stitches – this manoeuvre lifts the loose skin and tissues of the jowl and neck. The skin is laid back down and the excess is trimmed away. The skin is stitched neatly with an absorbable stitch, hidden under the skin.

Facelift will not improve the quality of your skin and it will not deal with pores or fine wrinkles especially those around the lips and eyes.

Other treatments to improve the quality and thickness of your skin (creams / peels / laser treatment) may be helpful to fully rejuvenate the face. Eyelid surgery is frequently combined with a facelift to rejuvenate the eyes.