RHINOPLASTY
Condition and symptoms
Mrs Bentley’s area of expertise is Rhinology (“the nose”). A rhinoplasty is an operation to change the appearance of your nose. Sometimes a rhinoplasty is performed to improve how you breathe through your nose. It involves operating on the bones and cartilage that give your nose its shape and structure. If you have a blocked nose caused by a deviated septum, you may only require a septoplasty.
A rhinoplasty is the only way to change the appearance of your nose. If you have a blocked nose because your nasal bones are crooked or damaged, a rhinoplasty (usually along with a septoplasty) is the only option to improve the way your nose functions in addition to improving the appearance.
Treatment
The operation is almost always performed under a general anaesthetic. The operation usually takes 2-3 hours. Mrs Bentley will perform your surgery either via a close approach (no external scars) or an external approach (using a small incision in the skin under the nose). She will explain which route she will choose and why that decision was made at your consultation. She can refine the tip of your nose by removing some of the cartilage. If you have a hump on your nose, she can reduce it. She can also straighten and narrow the nasal bones by breaking and then setting them straight. She also may need to support or rebuild part of your nose using a cartilage graft (often taken from the ear) or a bone graft.
During your consultation she will explain the operation in detail and highlight that there are risks associated with surgery both general risks and those specifically associated with nasal functional and cosmetic surgery. She usually send you away with all the new information for a cooling off period before a definitive decision to go ahead with surgery is made. Photographs are taken and these can be discussed together at the next consultation.
Rhinoplasty is a day case procedure with discharge home on the same day. She will explain that there will be bruising under the eyes, nasal swelling and blockage and a plaster on the nose for the one week. Other risks will be highlighted and 2 weeks off work is advised.