Rhinoplasty myths vs facts: what is really true about nose surgery

Rhinoplasty changes the shape of the nose and, when needed, improves breathing. The surgeon works on the bone and cartilage framework under the skin, then the tissues heal and settle over many months. Most myths come from mixing up the first weeks of recovery with the long-term result, or from judging all noses by one person's story.

In the first weeks after surgery the nose really does need protection. Internal splints usually stay for about a week, and an external cast protects the nose for up to two weeks. During this time you avoid bending over, touching the nose, wearing glasses and any activity with a risk of a knock.

When the cast comes off, many patients are surprised: the nose may look wider, higher or less defined than planned. This is swelling, not the final result. The first real improvement is usually visible once the main swelling subsides, after two to three weeks.

A picture of a celebrity's nose is a useful starting point for a conversation, not a blueprint. What can be achieved depends on:

• the thickness and elasticity of your skin;
• the strength and shape of your cartilage and nasal bones;
• the condition of the septum and how well you breathe;
• the proportions of your face, chin and forehead;
• previous injuries or operations on the nose.

The operation itself is done under general anaesthesia, so you feel nothing during it. Afterwards, most patients describe pressure, a blocked nose and a dull ache rather than sharp pain. The first two to three days are usually the least comfortable, partly because you breathe through your mouth while splints are in the nostrils.

Rhinoplasty is often called one of the most demanding operations in facial surgery. Changes of a millimetre or two affect how the nose looks from the front and in profile, and the surgeon must keep the airway open while reshaping the framework. That is why training and experience in nose surgery matter so much.

Some people worry that they will end up with a standard, "operated" nose. Modern rhinoplasty aims for the opposite: a nose that fits your face so well that people notice you look better, not that you had surgery. The plan depends on your goals, your ethnic features, your profile and how you breathe.

City Medical Centre performs closed and open rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, rhinoseptoplasty and reconstructive rhinoseptoplasty. The operation takes place under general anaesthesia and usually lasts 1.5 to 3 hours, with a one-day stay at the clinic. Splints are removed on about day seven and the cast with the stitches on about day fourteen. Follow-up visits take place at about seven days, three months and six months, and for a year after surgery consultations with your surgeon are free.