What Is a Nose Job (Rhinoplasty)?
A nose job, medically known as rhinoplasty, is a procedure that can change the shape, length, width, and projection of the nose for cosmetic purposes. However, the surgery can also be combined with septoplasty, a functional surgery for treating a deviated septum and improving breathing. The decision to get either surgery is dependent on the needs of the patient.
Normally, genetics significantly influence the shape of the nose. However, its form and function can also be affected by traumatic injuries, health conditions (e.g. autoimmune conditions, infections, cancer), congenital deformities, and even ageing. When it comes to improving the nose’s aesthetics, nose jobs can provide a permanent and effective solution.
Quick Facts
What is the downtime for a nose job?
You might have to take 1 week off work following a surgical nose job.
When do you see the final results of rhinoplasty?
The final results of your nose job will become apparent after 6 months to 1 year; swelling can take 6 months to subside.
What kind of anaesthesia is used for rhinoplasty?
A nose job is performed under general anaesthesia; you will not be conscious or feel pain.
Are rhinoplasty results permanent?
The results of a nose job are permanent. With age, however, your nose’s appearance can change naturally.
Am I a Good Candidate for Rhinoplasty?
A nose job can dramatically change the appearance of your nose, which can result in improved self-esteem and body image. The surgery is quite effective and has been well worth it for many individuals, but to have the best possible outcome, you need to be a suitable candidate for it.
A rhinoplasty is not recommended until the nose has fully developed.
Girls’ nose development: In girls, noses continue to grow until they are 14 or 15 years old. Therefore, surgery is not recommended before that.
Boys’ nose development: In boys, noses can continue to grow until they are 17, so they can have surgery after this age.
A rhinoplasty can be done to address a variety of aesthetic concerns, including:
Tip issues: You are unsatisfied with the shape, location or projection of your nose tip.
Nose hump: You have a hump or bump present on your nasal bridge that you want to smooth out.
Deviated septum: You want to straighten your septum to improve your breathing as well as change the appearance of your nose. This will, however, require a septorhinoplasty.
Wide base: You are unhappy with the width of your nose base and want to reduce it.
Large nostrils: You have flared nostrils, and you want to change how they look.
Contorted nose: Your nose is crooked or bent, and it makes you feel self-conscious about your appearance.
Asymmetrical nose: Your nose is uneven, and you want to make it more symmetrical.
The decision to have a rhinoplasty should be your own, not influenced by anyone else.
Peer pressure: When you do decide to have this surgery, you shouldn’t be pressured into it by your peers or family. This is a decision you should make for yourself.
Unrealistic expectations: You should not expect rhinoplasty to fix any personal issues in your life or make all your problems go away. This can lead to dissatisfaction with the surgery.
Who is Not Suitable for a Nose Job?
You might be advised against a nose job in the following instances:
- Physical health issues (e.g. bleeding disorder, uncontrolled diabetes)
- Active drug use
- Unrealistic expectations
- Mental health problems (e.g. body dysmorphic disorder or personality disorder)
If you’re considering nose job surgery, our expert team at Longevita is here to guide you. We’ll help determine the best approach to meet your needs, whether cosmetic or reconstructive. Book a consultation today to take the first step toward feeling more confident in your body.
What Should I Know Before Getting Nose Surgery?
Before anything else, you must be clear on exactly what you want done to your nose, whether the issue is the bridge, tip, width, symmetry, etc. It’s not for the surgeon to tell you what’s wrong with your nose because beauty ideals are highly subjective and can differ by ethnicity and gender.
Once you’ve discussed your aesthetic goals with the surgeon, they will thoroughly examine the overall shape and structure of your nose (including the nasal cavity) from the front, side, and base. Their recommendations will take into account your unique anatomy and face shape, as well as your medical history.
Additionally, the thickness of the skin is also taken into consideration — thicker skin requires more changes to the nose for the results to be notable; it’s also accompanied by greater postoperative swelling. If you have thicker skin, you should know that recovery might take longer than usual. Nevertheless, you should be able to achieve your desired outcome from the surgery and have a successful recovery.
Depending on the desired changes, it is possible to perform a reduction rhinoplasty (making the nose smaller) or augmentation rhinoplasty (enhancing the dimensions of the nose). If it is the latter, your surgeon might need to extract cartilage from other areas of your body, such as ribs or ears. Both revision and Asian rhinoplasties commonly use graft cartilages.
Although other cartilages can also be used, the ones harvested from your own body might be preferred by your surgeon. In this case, however, another area of your body will have to be operated upon.
Simulation Before Rhinoplasty
Your surgeon will use digital simulation software to show you what your nose might look like after rhinoplasty.
In addition to helping you communicate the precise changes you want to make to your nose, it will also help your surgeon understand your expectations more clearly.
While this tool is helpful, it’s still important to keep in mind that it doesn’t exactly predict the outcome of a nose job.
How Is Rhinoplasty Surgery Performed?
On the day of your procedure, you will have another detailed discussion with your surgeon about your treatment plan. Once you are happy with it, you will be taken to the surgery room, where you will be given general anaesthesia so you will not be awake during the procedure.
Subsequently, incisions are made inside the nose or both inside and outside, depending on the surgical technique. The surgeon operates on the concerned areas and then sutures them. Once the surgery is completed, a plaster splint will be placed on your nose so it can be held in its new position.
Additionally, if needed, nasal packing (gauze) or soft splints might also be placed inside your nose to prevent the septum from moving. While this can cause some postoperative discomfort, it will be removed after a few days.
The entire procedure takes 1-2 hours, however, since it’s inpatient, you will have to stay in the hospital for one night. After your discharge, you will have a check-up appointment 6 days after the surgery, during which the plaster splint from your nose will be removed.
Some important considerations regarding the surgery include:
- Different Techniques
- Concerned Area
1. What Are the Different Techniques for a Rhinoplasty?
There are two surgical approaches for rhinoplasty, which are as follows:
| Closed Rhinoplasty | Open Rhinoplasty | |
|---|---|---|
| Procedure | Incisions are made inside the nose. | Incisions are made both inside and outside the nose. The latter is made across the columella, which is the tissue separating the nostrils at the base of the nose. |
| Suitability | Minor changes to the tip or bridge of the nose. | Significant changes are to be made to the nose and/or a complicated case, such as a revision rhinoplasty or nasal deformity. It can also be used to correct asymmetry of the nose. |
| Advantages | No visible scar, less swelling, and quicker recovery. | Ensures better visualisation, access and precision for the surgeon as the skin of the nose is lifted up. |
| Disadvantages | Visibility of the nose is limited as the skin is not lifted up. It’s also not preferred when significant work is required on the nose. | Leaves a visible scar outside the nose (though if the surgery’s done properly and aftercare instructions are followed, it should heal well over time), and it also causes more swelling. |
2. How Do Rhinoplasties Differ According to Area Treated?
Depending on the area being treated, there are different types of rhinoplasties, including:
- Tip plasty
- Nasal bridge (dorsum) augmentation or hump reduction
- Alarplasty
- Septoplasty
A combination of them can be used to treat different types of nose concerns.
A tip plasty, as its name implies, focuses exclusively on modifying the tip of the nose. Droopy, bulbous, under-projected, less defined, or too upturned tips can be treated with this procedure. Cleft (bifid) nasal tips and nasal tip deformities can also be addressed with this surgery.
Different techniques can be used during tip plasty, such as sutures, cartilage trimming, or graft placement. Rotating the nasal tip to move it upwards, for instance, can involve the use of all three. However, they may also be used separately or in combination, such as might be done for correcting a bulbous nose tip.
One of the most common complaints that many have is the presence of a “hump,” which can be effectively addressed with a dorsal hump reduction surgery. Depending on whether the bump is caused by nasal bones, cartilage or a combination of the two, different techniques are used to treat it.
If it’s a combination of the two, the surgeon may begin by trimming the cartilage before moving onto the bony part, which is essentially “smoothed” down. Following that, nasal bones are cut and reshaped (osteotomy). Additionally, grafts might be placed to ensure stability in the structure of the nose.
On the other hand, if you want to elevate the bridge of your nose, it is possible to do so with dorsal augmentation. It can be done using a cartilage graft extracted from your own body. Dorsal augmentation is done more frequently in Asian rhinoplasty due to the naturally low height of the dorsum.
The word ala refers to the wings of the nose or the nostrils, and alarplasty is a type of rhinoplasty which focuses on changing the shape of the nostrils. This surgery, also called an alar base reduction, can also narrow the nasal base.
The surgery involves removing a small piece of tissue from the base of each nostril. Afterwards, the skin is sutured, and the nose narrowed.
On its own, septoplasty is a functional surgery which aims to straighten a deviated nose septum — the cartilage dividing the left and right sides of the nose. This can help fix any breathing problems that the person is experiencing. However, if you are interested in changing the appearance of your nose as well, you’d need to have a cosmetic rhinoplasty as well, both of which can be done together in a septorhinoplasty.
Ethnic rhinoplasty is different from caucasian rhinoplasty!
In the past, the Caucasian nose was considered the “ideal” nose shape because of its characteristic narrowness, thinness, and longer length. This template nose shape leads, however, to the erasure of ethnic features in patients of African or Asian descent, giving poor results.
It’s important that your surgeon respects and preserves your heritage and harmonises your nose with your facial features for the best possible results. And to make sure your surgeon is well aware of these ethnic differences in noses, it’s a good idea to take a look at the before and after photos of their ethnic patients.
Is It Possible to Have a Secondary Rhinoplasty?
In the event you are unhappy with the results of your previous surgery or have experienced a complication because of it, it is possible for you to undergo a secondary or revision rhinoplasty.
If you are considering a second rhinoplasty after not being satisfied with the first one, you should wait at least one year to see the results. In the event you’re still unhappy with how your nose looks, you can undergo revision rhinoplasty.
However, in case you’re experiencing any postoperative complications, make sure to inform your surgeon as soon as possible.
How Long Does it Take To Recover from a Nose Job?
The downtime of a nose job is usually 1 week. Engaging in everyday activities may take up to 3 weeks after surgery as the body continues to heal.
You will experience bruising and swelling soon after the surgery. These are expected side effects of surgery, so do not be alarmed, especially as the bruises can also appear underneath the eyes.
While the bruising will go away after a week, most of the rhinoplasty swelling will take around 6 months to subside. It can take a year for the latter to completely go away, at which point you can also see the final results of your procedure.
A few other temporary side effects of the surgery include itchiness, mild leakage from the nostrils, and numbness.
Furthermore, there are some other things to take note of during recovery:
Massage the nose
Massaging improves blood flow to the nose, which can reduce swelling. You will be provided with specific massage techniques and frequency by your surgeon to make sure you do them safely.
Wait for the stitches to dissolve
It can take 4-5 weeks for the stitches inside your nose to dissolve. In the meantime, do not touch them, tug at them or try to pull them out. If you are experiencing discomfort, your surgeon can prescribe an appropriate medication.
Allow time for your sense of smell and taste to return
It’s common for patients to experience a temporary reduction in their sense of smell due to swelling and congestion. However, as the swelling subsides over a few weeks, the sense of smell typically returns to normal.
Rhinoplasty can also affect your sense of taste due to the crusts that form inside the nostrils. But this is also temporary. Keeping the nose clean will help you taste again.
Be patient for the stuffiness to subside
For several weeks after the surgery, your nose can feel mildly stuffy. It is due to the swelling caused by the surgery, but it should get better with time. Measures such as keeping the head elevated, staying hydrated and avoiding the sun and salty foods are a few ways in which this can be helped.
* Aftercare instructions can vary between surgeons, so make sure to follow the advice of your surgeon.
During the check-up appointment, you will be explained all the aftercare instructions in detail by your surgeon. You will also be emailed a digital copy of them. Moreover, if you have any questions during recovery, you can always reach out to our Aftercare team at [email protected].
Is There Any Risk of Complications from a Nose Job?
Like all surgical procedures, rhinoplasties carry certain risks, some of which are as follows:
- Infection
- Asymmetry
- Hematoma
- Scarring
- Septal perforation
- Numbness
- Skin discolouration
When the surgery is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon, complications are rare and usually minor.
With Longevita, you will be operated upon by highly experienced, board-certified plastic surgeons. Furthermore, your surgery will be performed in internationally Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited medical facilities, ensuring your safety and complete peace of mind.
Patient Journey
Rhinoplasty in Turkey Before and After Photos
The results of a rhinoplasty are permanent, and you can enjoy them for a lifetime.
While the before-and-after photos of other patients can provide you with a good reference point for your surgeon, keep in mind that results can vary between patients.
What our Patients Say
Don’t take our word for it – see for yourself what patients say about their experience!
How Much Does a Rhinoplasty Cost in Turkey?
The cost of a nose job can vary widely depending on where you’re getting this surgery. On average, it can cost you £7,000 to have a rhinoplasty in the UK. However, the same surgery can cost around £2,000 in Turkey due to the lower cost of living and differences in exchange rates.
With Longevita, a cosmetic rhinoplasty is priced at £1,750, and you can get a septorhinoplasty for £2,000.
Frequently asked questions
Will the pressure from flying affect my nose?
It’s important to avoid flying immediately after your procedure to prevent potential discomfort and complications. Air trapped inside the nasal tissues due to the surgery can lead to discomfort and pain, especially during changes in cabin pressure. Additionally, the recirculated air on planes may increase the risk of bleeding. The surgeon will let you know when it’s safe to fly back; usually, it’s around the 7th day after the surgery.
I have asthma. Could rhinoplasty cause breathing difficulties for me?
Using an inhaler does not necessarily prevent you from undergoing rhinoplasty. However, your surgeon will take your condition into careful consideration based on the information provided in your medical history form. Depending on the severity of your problem and potential risks, there may be a need to adjust the treatment plan or, in rare cases, cancel the surgery to ensure your safety and well-being.
Can I undergo rhinoplasty and a facelift simultaneously?
Unfortunately, facelift and rhinoplasty are not recommended simultaneously. After rhinoplasty, swelling and bruising typically persist for about a week, which could potentially affect the results of a facelift performed concurrently. Since these procedures target distinct areas of the face and may interact, it’s advisable to prioritise the one that concerns you the most and address it first. This allows for optimal healing and ensures the best possible outcomes for each procedure.
How long after rhinoplasty can I undergo a hair transplant?
You can have rhinoplasty a day after having a hair transplant (once you’ve had your check-up). A hair transplant is recommended before a nose job because, during the former, the patient needs to lie in a specific position to facilitate the proper extraction of grafts. This sequence ensures the best results for both procedures while minimising any potential risks or complications associated with positioning during surgery.
What happens if the results of my rhinoplasty don't match my passport photo?
Postoperative swelling can temporarily alter your appearance, however, if you are concerned about looking different, your doctor can provide you with a letter confirming you’ve had the surgery. Additionally, you’ll also receive a detailed medical travel itinerary before your trip, including the dates of your surgical appointment. This itinerary can also be shown to airport security if needed.
Does a person's voice change after rhinoplasty?
Rhinoplasties typically do not alter a patient’s voice. The sound of voice is produced by the vocal cords in the windpipe, and a rhinoplasty does not affect these structures directly. However, in cases where the nasal passages are excessively narrowed during rhinoplasty, it can potentially impact airflow through the nose and lead to a “nasal” voice.
