Did NeNe Leakes have a rhinoplasty? Yes — twice, and she said so herself

NeNe Leakes had her first rhinoplasty in 2010, narrowing her nostrils — and in June 2016, when a second nose job set social media talking, she confirmed it herself on Watch What Happens Live. As Page Six reported on 17 June 2016, her answer was pure Leakes: “I got my nose done because first of all, I can. I will. And I'll get it done again if I want to. OK?”

Rhinoplasty Leeds, Rhinoplasty Dublin — price and consultation.

NeNe Leakes's two rhinoplasties show the full range of reasons noses come back to the operating room. The first was aesthetic — narrowing the nostrils that had “bothered” her, as she described the 2010 work. The second was functional and corrective: cartilage that kept growing can distort the tip and interfere with breathing, and a revision rhinoplasty is the standard answer.

More on this topic: Rhinoplasty in one day, Open Rhinoplasty, Closed Rhinoplasty, Rhinoplasty for Patients from Singapore, Rhinoplasty in Melbourne.

Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose: the bridge, the tip, the nostrils and, in septorhinoplasty, the deviated septum inside that blocks breathing. The operation is done under general anaesthesia or TIVA, with open technique (a small incision on the columella) or closed technique (incisions inside the nostrils), and ultrasonic piezo instruments for precise bone work. Cartilage — from the septum, ear or rib — is used where the framework needs support or reshaping, as in Leakes's cartilage-related case.

Candidates are adults, typically aged 18–45 with marked concerns, in stable health; older patients are assessed individually. Contraindications include acute infection, uncontrolled chronic disease and anything that rules out safe general anaesthesia. Patients considering a revision, as in NeNe Leakes's case, should bring the full history of the first operation — what was done, and what changed since.

The first 24 hours are spent in the inpatient unit. For the first days, breathing goes through the mouth and splints sit in the nostrils; swelling and bruising around the eyes are normal. Nasal splints come out around day 7, the external splint stays up to 14 days, and stitches are removed on day 14 — the stage at which NeNe Leakes appeared on television, still swollen.

City Medical Centre performs primary, revision and reconstructive rhinoplasty for international patients, including patients from New York. Primary rhinoplasty costs $4,200 (currently reduced from $6,000), revision rhinoplasty $5,400, rhinoseptoplasty $5,000, reconstructive rhinoseptoplasty $4,700 and rib-cartilage reconstruction from $5,400. The first consultation is free; the final cost is confirmed after an in-person examination.