Understanding Nasal Restructuring Surgery

Thank you, for choosing me to perform your nasal restructuring surgery. This video explains what to expect from your procedure. I will cover the possible complications and how we typically manage them - helping you feel prepared and informed about your upcoming surgery. All surgical procedures carry some risks - and I want you to know about them. There are general complications that can occur with any surgery, and specific risks directly related to nose procedures. Most complications are rare, and I have experience in managing them when they do occur. Bleeding occurs in around one in twenty patients following surgery. This is usually minor and managed with a small dressing placed under your nose for two to three days. The hospital provides this nasal bolster dressing, and bleeding typically resolves quickly without further treatment needed. Infection also affects approximately one-in-twenty patients after surgery. We treat this with antibiotics either as tablets taken by mouth, or creams applied directly to the affected area. Post-operative infections are generally straightforward to treat, with appropriate medication. They usually resolve well with prompt attention - and proper care. To help prevent scarring inside your nose, I place thin silastic sheets inside both nostrils during surgery. These blue-coloured sheets remain in place for one week. I remove them during your follow-up appointment without anaesthetic. The process takes less than one minute, and symptoms usually lift immediately afterwards. Septal perforation is a small hole connecting the nostrils - this occurs in less than one in one hundred of my patients. This happens when opposing tears occur across the membrane on both sides. If septal perforation does develop, I can repair it later if needed - it causes minimal symptoms and is manageable. For rhinoplasty - bruising and swelling are expected after reshaping. Both typically peak after twenty-four hours, and settle within four to five days. Ice packs may help reduce swelling and after cast removal, gentle massage away from the nose for six months may help. The nose continues changing for months - so patience during healing is important. With aesthetic surgery, outcomes are subjective and vary between individuals. Small imperfections can be addressed after twelve months once fully settled if needed. I take photographs before surgery for documentation and comparison. These help us discuss and align our expectations about possible results before proceeding with surgery. Rhinoplasty sometimes requires revision surgery - and is why careful discussion beforehand is important to share realistic expectations. I can morph pre-operative photographs as a rough guide to possible results. However - remember that photographs provide guidance, not exact predictions. You might want to discuss your expectations with me in detail - before proceeding. After rhinoplasty - you may want to avoid wearing glasses for three months as they can cause indentations due to swelling - instead, you might consider arranging contact lenses for this period. Also, please use high SPF fifty sun cream on your nose, when in sunlight. Consider avoiding contact sports for six to twelve months to protect your results during healing. Also avoid weight lifting for 3 months, however you can go back to gyming for cardio after 6 weeks. Expect swelling to last between a few weeks and two months - this all depends on skin conditions & thickness; general healing ability; infections; massaging; and the amount of surgical alterations needed. For more information, organisations like the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology and ENTUK provide patient resources. If you have any questions about your procedure, please contact my team. We are here to support you in making informed decisions about your care.