Nose Surgery & Reshaping For Men

The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthetic, although it can be performed under heavy or “twilight” sedation which reduces recovery time.

Generally the surgeon will work from the inside of the nose; the skin and external area is not touched from the outside which means there are no visible scars. In open Rhinoplasty a tiny scar is made outside.

Rhinoplasty may involve your surgeon working on the following parts of your nose to achieve the necessary results:

• The dorsum/bridge – by removing some cartilage and bone, they can reduce your hump. They may also need to break your nose to join the parts of your bones that are left, producing a nose with a more narrow profile.
• The tip – the surgeon may reshape or reduce the cartilage in the tip of your nose directly through your nostril or alternatively via a small incision in the columella, the area between the nostrils. This is normally done during open rhinoplasty.
• The length – by reducing the septum, or central part of your nose, the surgeon can reduce the length of your nose and more specifically, the tip. It may also involve adjustments being made to the cartilage in your tip.
• The Width – in order to give you a narrower-looking nose, the surgeon may need to break and then reposition the side nasal bones.

Your surgeon will see you when you have recovered to check that all is well, and you will usually be discharged the same day. You’ll be given medication and post-operative instructions along with appropriate telephone numbers in case you need to contact us at any time. Cold compresses should be applied regularly for the first couple of days to reduce swelling.

Week 1-2

You will be fully mobile but may still experience some minor discomfort which you can control with prescribed painkillers. Bruising and swelling around the eyes will diminish and is usually almost gone after two weeks, and, importantly, you will look “normal” to other people. During this time you will also receive a post-operative check with your surgeon.

It’s worth anticipating your own reaction to the first sight of yourself and your new nose. To start with you will look rather strange in the mirror and not quite “you”. Remember that it takes a few days for your mind’s eye to adjust itself to your new appearance and to recognise it as “you”. You should not worry about any minor problems of shape immediately after the operation: it takes around 12 months for your nose to settle and for swelling to subside completely.

Weeks 8-10

Your surgeon will see you again, usually 8-10 weeks after the procedure for a full post-operative consultation.

Nose reshaping can be performed on a day case if non-invasive methods aren’t used.

For a rhinoplasty, depending on the extent of the surgery, recovery will generally involve a hospital stay of at least one to two nights.

Your nose will be dressed and given a splint secured with tape to ensure it sets back into the right position. Unless there are any further complications, your splint will then be removed between 7 to 10 days after your surgery.

It is common to experience some discomfort and pain after this procedure, but painkillers will be adequate for dealing with it. If you have any difficulties breathing while recovering, you can be prescribed nasal drops or a nasal spray to help.

However, within 3 weeks you should be able to breathe normally through your nose and blow your nose without issue.

Many patients suffer adverse effects to their sense of smell. Again, this will dissipate within a few weeks.

You need to keep in mind that if your rhinoplasty involved extensive work on your nasal bones, it could take them as much as 3 months to heal properly.

In that time, you will be able to go about your daily life as normal, but will need to take care to avoid any injuries being caused to your nose.

A Revision Rhinoplasty is not free for new patients of Dr Yannis. If you are a current patient of ours, please review our Patient Promise which outlines our policy on revisions and more.

Recovery can be different for each patient, and Rhinoplasties – in general – take a long time to heal fully. With Revision Rhinoplasty, the visible signs of surgery (like bruising and swelling) can take around 2-3 weeks to diminish fully. Internal healing can take longer, from 6 months upwards.

To maintain the highest levels of safety, we usually ask our patients to wait for one year before we perform a Revision Rhinoplasty. This is because it can take 12 months or more for your nose to fully settle into its new position and for its new look to present itself.