Rhinoplasty in London (Nose Job Surgery)

Rhinoplasty is one of the most requested cosmetic surgery procedures. It reshapes the nose to improve its size, shape or proportion, or to correct breathing problems caused by its internal structure. At botonics, we offer rhinoplasty at our Harley Street clinic in London, taking the time to understand your concerns and what you’d like to achieve before agreeing on a treatment plan.

What Rhinoplasty Can Address

• A visible bump or ridge on the bridge: Commonly softened or removed to create a smoother profile.
• Asymmetry or a crooked appearance: Whether present since birth or developed following an injury.
• A tip that looks too wide, rounded or heavy: Refined to sit in better proportion with the rest of the nose and face.
• A wide nasal base or flared nostrils: Narrowed to bring the overall shape into better balance.
• Restricted breathing: When a deviated septum, a bend in the wall between your nostrils, is contributing to the problem, it can be straightened through septoplasty alongside cosmetic reshaping.

Your surgeon will assess which of these concerns apply to you and explain what can realistically be achieved during your consultation.

Am I a Suitable Candidate for Rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty tends to suit adults in good overall health who have finished growing and have realistic expectations about what surgery can achieve. A few things are worth flagging before you book a consultation:

• Any active infection or open wound on the nose or surrounding skin must resolve fully before surgery can take place.
• If your face is still developing, your surgeon will usually wait until growth is complete, typically from the later teenage years onwards.
• Expectations matter as much as anatomy. Your surgeon will explain what’s achievable and won’t proceed if your desired outcome isn’t realistic.
• Some medications and bleeding disorders can affect whether or when surgery is appropriate. Your surgeon will assess these during your consultation.

If you’re still weighing up whether rhinoplasty is the right step, book a consultation with one of our surgeons at our Harley Street clinic and talk it through properly.

Your Journey From Start To Finish

1. Step One

   Consultation

   Your consultation is with the Consultant Plastic Surgeon who will carry out your surgery. They’ll talk through your concerns and what you’d like to change, examine your nose and explain your options, so you have a clear understanding of the procedure before any decisions are made.

2. Step Two

   Preparation

   You’ll receive detailed pre-operative guidance ahead of your surgery date, including advice on medication and smoking, so you know exactly how to prepare. The procedure itself is performed under general anaesthetic.

3. Step Three

   The Procedure

   Your surgeon reshapes the bone and cartilage to achieve the agreed result, using either a closed approach (incisions hidden inside the nostrils, leaving no visible external scarring) or an open approach (a small incision across the strip of skin between your nostrils, providing a fuller view of the underlying structure for more complex reshaping or revision cases). The technique used depends on what needs to be corrected. The procedure typically takes one to two hours.

4. Step Four

   Recovery and Aftercare

   Most patients go home the same day or after one night. A splint supports the nose while it heals, and our team will book follow-up appointments to check how your recovery is progressing.

Rhinoplasty Recovery: What to Expect

• First week: A protective splint stays on the nose and is typically removed after around seven days. Bruising and swelling, particularly around the eyes, are usually most noticeable during these early days.
• Into week two and three: Bruising fades noticeably, and most patients feel comfortable returning to desk-based work. The nose, particularly the tip, can still feel swollen.
• Weeks three to six: Strenuous exercise, contact sports and any activities that risk a knock to the nose should be avoided during this period.
• From three months to a year: The nose continues to settle and refine gradually. Some patients notice subtle changes around the tip up to the twelve-month mark as the remaining swelling resolves.

Healing timelines vary from person to person, so your surgeon will provide a recovery plan tailored to your procedure.

How Long Do the Results Last?

Rhinoplasty produces a permanent change to the structure of the nose. Once healing is complete, typically by around 12 months, the results are considered stable and long-term, barring subsequent injury or significant ageing changes to the skin and cartilage over time.

Risks and Complications of Rhinoplasty

Every surgical procedure carries risks. Your surgeon will explain these in detail before you decide whether to proceed, so you have the information you need to make an informed decision.

• Bruising and swelling are expected, particularly around the eyes, and usually settle over the first week or two.
• A degree of asymmetry is a recognised possibility with any rhinoplasty, although careful planning aims to achieve the most balanced result possible.
• Infection is uncommon, thanks to strict clinical hygiene standards, but requires prompt medical attention if it develops.
• Numbness or altered sensation around the tip is common during the early stages of recovery and usually settles over the following months.
• Breathing can be temporarily affected in rare cases where changes to the internal structure of the nose affect airflow. This is why nasal function is assessed alongside appearance throughout the planning process.
• Septal perforation, where a small hole develops in the septum, is a rare complication that occasionally requires further treatment.
• The cosmetic result may not fully meet expectations in some cases, even when the procedure has been carefully planned and performed.
• Revision surgery is sometimes necessary. Rhinoplasty has a higher revision rate than many other procedures, simply because the margins involved in reshaping bone and cartilage are so fine.
• General anaesthetic carries its own small risk, as with any procedure performed under it. Your anaesthetist will discuss this with you beforehand.