Rhinoplasty - a "Nose Job"

The word "Rhinoplasty" is the Medical Term for "Nose Job". It is used to describe a range of surgical procedures that are used to re-shape the nose. The operation needed for any particular patient is tailored to their individual needs.

Deformity of the Nose

In some instances the deformity is purely on the outside of the nose. In others, the deviation might be visible on the outside but might cause blockage on this inside as well. Anyone can be unhappy about the shape of their nose - there is no particular type of person or group of people that suffer from mis-shaped noses.

The presence of a nasal deformity can have varying effects on an individual. This can range from something that they occasionally think of to something that is continually on their mind, making them very unhappy to the point where it takes over their life.

The Patient and her symptoms

Miss EF from Surrey was unhappy with the shape of her nose. It had a bump on the top and quite a bulbous tip. Miss EF felt that her nose was abnormally large for her face. She became more aware of this in her teens. Although she said it didn't take over her life, she felt it was consciously always at the back her mind and she was very aware that it was her weak feature.

Miss E F became very self-conscious in social situations and she felt that people would pick on her because of her nose. As she got older this feeling worsened to the point when she wouldn't be photographed from the side and she always kept her hair down. She even dreaded pulling up alongside someone in the car at traffic lights where she would be caught in profile and so she would endeavour to find ways to hide her nose.

Miss LF, the sister of Miss EF had a similar problem with her nose, although the bump on the bridge of her nose was not as noticeable as her sister's. She also had slight webbing under her nose, although this was something Miss LF didn't realise until she saw Mr Rowe-Jones, the specialist at her consultation. The bump on her nose did not affect Miss LF as much as it did her sister, although it was through her sister that Miss LF became more conscious of it and acknowledged it as her flaw - particularly in profile photographs. It was Miss LF that then encouraged her sister that they should both "go for it" and get their noses improved.

Where to find help?

Miss EF had heard of cosmetic rhinoplasty and she had been considering this for about 4 years. Although the shape of her nose was an issue to her, she felt it wasn't something she would do at any cost and so she wished to know more about the implications of the surgery. Miss EF had previously seen a consultant with a view to having Rhinoplasty to alter the shape of her nose, but she had not felt entirely comfortable so had never followed through with it. Due to nature of this procedure it's important that you can relate to the consultant you choose and have the confidence in them to achieve the desired result.

It was through her sister, Miss LF that she heard of Mr Julian Rowe-Jones, Consultant Rhinologist and Nasal Plastic Surgeon at Guildford. Having read his website www.rhinoplasty.co.uk which explained more about the procedure, she decided to book a consultation with him. Mr Rowe-Jones' office required a referral from her GP, which she obtained and then an appointment was made for a consultation.

The Consultation with Mr Rowe-Jones

At the consultation Mr Rowe-Jones explained exactly what was involved with the procedure. He explained that the Rhinoplasty that she required had no external incisions or scars. Mr Rowe-Jones took pictures with a digital camera and then manipulated the image to show the desired final result. The benefits of this technique aids communication between patient and consultant. It also helps manage the patient's expectations of the operation, as well as helping them understand the procedure.

Miss EF and Miss LF were shown pictures of other patients who had previously been through a Rhinoplasty and had given their consent for their pictures to be used in this way. This allows patients like Miss EF and Miss LF to see the results that can be achieved and gives them a realistic view of what is possible. Mr Rowe-Jones is clear to point out to his patients the risks of surgery and to explain that, a good surgical result does not necessarily equal a happy patient - patient expectation can be overly optimistic if careful counselling is not performed!

The Operation - Rhinoplasty

No specific tests were required prior to surgery other than a general health examination to check they were fit enough for the surgery.

Miss EF and her sister decided to have their operations on the same day. They went in together and had a similar procedure on their noses one after the other. Although there was natural apprehension about the surgery, Mr Rowe-Jones made them feel very at ease. Each procedure was done under general anaesthetic.

Following the procedure Miss EF had 5 small plaster strips on her nose and a splint covering the top that was worn for 1 week. She had slight bruising under one eye and a blocked nose that felt like a cold and had to avoid sneezing and laughing. No painkillers were required and normal activities could be resumed almost straight away. Miss EF took 2 weeks off work and her sister, Miss LF was back to normal life after one. Miss LF described the worst bit of the procedure was the anxiety and nerves of waiting for the splint to be removed and seeing the final result.

The Results

Mr Rowe-Jones explained that the expected recovery time is about two weeks and the final result is apparent at one year. It is not usually a painful operation, but patients say that it just feels like having a heavy cold for a couple of weeks. The healing process is complete after about 6 weeks and with modern techniques, the nose should be strong and stable for the long term.

Modern rhinoplasty techniques aim to preserve the nasal structure and reshape it rather than removing a lot of tissue. Destruction and removal of nasal tissue can lead to unpredictable healing and shape change in the long term.

Since the treatment Miss EF and Miss LF say they have not looked back. Miss EF has much more self-confidence and doesn't worry about the situations that she used to dread before. She has had lots of compliments and reassurance from friends who knew that she had undergone Rhinoplasty.

Miss EF and Miss LF says that she would recommend this treatment one hundred percent to anyone who is not happy with the shape of their nose, as they know now that it can make all the difference. Although the sisters had made the decision to find out about having a nose job, but it was Mr Rowe-Jones who gave them the confidence to decide to go ahead with it.

For more information about Rhinoplasty - Visit the Medical Pages Web Site - www.Rhinoplasty.co.uk