The Operation

Nose reshaping is usually carried out under general anaesthetic. Depending on the specific surgery, the surgeon may make the nose smaller by removing some cartilage and bone (nose reduction), make it larger by taking cartilage from the ears and bone from the hip, elbow or skull to build up the nose (nose augmentation), or change its shape, including the nostrils, by breaking the nose bone and rearranging the cartilage. The overlying skin adjusts to the new shape as it heals.

The operation involves either a cut across the skin between the nostrils (open rhinoplasty) or tiny cuts inside the nostrils (closed rhinoplasty, which leaves no visible scars, though isn't always possible or available). The procedure takes 1.5 to 3 hours, and most people stay in hospital for 1 or 2 nights. Afterwards you'll have a dressing and a splint held over your nose for about 7 days, and may find it hard to breathe through your nose during this time — painkillers can help with any discomfort.

What to Expect

You may need up to 2 weeks off work, and it can take several months to see the full effect of surgery, with swelling taking up to 6 months to fully settle. As a general guide, stitches (unless dissolvable) and the splint are often removed after about a week; bruising, swelling and redness may have faded by 3 weeks, when swimming may be possible; and strenuous exercise can usually resume after 4 to 6 weeks.

It can help to prop your head up with pillows for a couple of days to reduce swelling, avoid hot baths and getting the splint wet, avoid blowing your nose or removing crusts until your splint-removal appointment, sneeze through your mouth to avoid pressure on the nose, and avoid strenuous exercise or contact sports for 4 to 6 weeks.

Common Side Effects

It's common to have breathing difficulties for about a week (needing to breathe through your mouth), a stiff, numb nose, soreness, swelling and bruising around the eyes lasting up to 3 weeks, and light nosebleeds for the first few days.

Possible Complications

Nose reshaping can occasionally result in permanent breathing difficulty, damage to the cartilage wall between the nostrils, an altered sense of smell, or heavy nosebleeds. As with any operation, there's also a small general risk of excessive bleeding, blood clots, infection, or an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic. Your surgeon should explain how likely these risks are and how they'd be treated if they happen.

If Something Goes Wrong

Contact the clinic where your operation took place as soon as possible if you have severe pain or unexpected symptoms — you can also call NHS 111 or get help from NHS 111 online. If you're unhappy with your results or think the procedure wasn't carried out properly, raise this with your surgeon first. You can also contact the CQC with concerns about your care, or raise a concern with the GMC if necessary.