Your nose is the second most prominent feature on your face, next to your eyes. Many people are unhappy with the shape or size of their nose and a nose job may be an ideal way to shape a new you.

A rhinoplasty can increase or reduce the size of your nose, straighten a lump on the bridge of the nose, change the shape of the tip or the bridge, narrow the nostrils, or change the angle between your nose and your upper lip. Listening carefully to you, and taking a careful holistic view of your face, Mr Jawad will discuss options available to you.

The nose consists of two basic components: bone and cartilage. The bone supports the upper part of the nose, while the lower part of the nose is supported by cartilage. Inside the nose is a hollow cavity, called the nasal cavity which is divided into two sections or passages by the nasal septum (the bit dividing the two nostrils). Aesthetic or cosmetic rhinoplasty reshapes the cartilage, bone and sometimes soft tissues of the nose, to produce an appearance more pleasing to the patient.

A rhinoplasty is performed under a general anaesthetic. The surgeon often makes an incision inside the rim of the nostrils to avoid any visible scars. However, for more complicated operations an ‘open’ technique may be used where a small incision is made across the base of the nose on the strip of tissue that separates the nostrils. This ‘open’ procedure may result in a small scar on the underside of the nose.

During surgery, the soft tissue of the nose is separated from the bone and cartilage underneath the skin. Then the bone may be broken and repositioned and the cartilage reshaped to achieve the look you require. A splint is applied and the nostrils are packed lightly with gauze. If the nose is not being reduced in size, then the nose is only taped while it is healing and stitches are not required.

Dissolving sutures are used which usually take 2 weeks to dissolve. If an incision is made across the skin separating the nostrils, then the stitches may need to be removed.

The operation can take between 1 – 2 hours, but depending on the extent of the procedure, it can take longer. Nose reshaping surgery usually requires an overnight stay but some patients may be suitable as a day case.

During your initial consultation for rhinoplasty, London based surgeon Mohammd Jawad of the Nip n Tuck Surgery will give you a detailed description of what the procedure entails.

Most patients find that they can go back to work one to two weeks after surgery. It will take several weeks before normal activity can be resumed however.

Swelling of the eyes, nose, and sometimes face, will be experienced after a rhinoplasty procedure. The inflammation may last for a couple of weeks. If the nasal bone was broken, some blackening or bruising around the eyes may occur. You will feel some discomfort in your nose, and some patients may experience headaches during the recovery period.