Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

A Rhinoplasty may also be performed to restore the shape of the nose after an injury or trauma, although it may not be possible to make the nose perfectly straight. Rhinoplasty will not treat snoring or sleep apnoea. If you have difficulty breathing through your nose, it may be possibleto perform surgery to the septum of the nose. This procedure is called a setoplasty.

The Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) procedure takes place in the modern Spire Little Aston Hospital near Birmingham.

The Operation:
The cuts required to perform the procedure are normally made inside the nose to avoid scarring wherever possible.

The desired shape of the nose is then created by partially removing and reshaping the underlying bone and cartilage. The small wounds are then closed with stitches.

Finally the nose may be filled with surgical packing to help control any bleeding. The procedure is usually undertaken while you are asleep under a general anaesthetic, but sedation and local anaesthetic that numbs the area around the nose may be used.

You are likely to feel uncomfortable after the operation and may need painkillers, such as paracetamol. You will have dressings in each nostril for approximately one day, which prevent you from breathing through your nose. You will also have a splint over the nose to hold the bones in position. This will be removed after about a week. You can expect some minor bleeding for a day or two. You will be advised to keep your head up as much as possible and avoid hot baths and alcohol. You should also try not to sneeze and avoid blowing your nose. You will experience some bruising and swelling, particularly around your eyes, which can take up to three weeks to disappear completely. Any difficulty in breathing through your nose should ease as the swelling settles. It will take approximately three months for the swelling to disappear altogether. Your nose will also feel numb and stiff, particularly around the tip.

Limitations and Potential Problems:
Like any operation carried out under general anaesthetic, there is a small risk of chest infection, particularly among people who smoke.

There is also a small risk of bleeding or infection. Some patients will experience a temporary loss or reduction in sensitivity to smell after the operation, which for a very small number of people will become permanent.