Rhinoplasty

1. Understanding Your Goals

• Your priorities: The consultation starts with what you would like to change, what matters most to you and what you hope surgery will achieve.

2. Clinical Assessment

• Clinical assessment: Dr Mercer assesses anatomy, tissue quality, asymmetry, scars and any factors that may affect the operation or healing.

3. Options, Limits & Planning

• Options and limits: Suitable surgical options, likely scars, trade-offs and realistic outcomes are discussed rather than assuming that surgery is the right answer.
• Planning: If you choose to proceed, clinical photography, measurements and a personalised operative plan are completed before a surgery date is confirmed.

Before surgery

• Nasal assessment: External shape, septum, airway and skin thickness are assessed.
• Photography: Standardised photographs support detailed planning and discussion of realistic change.
• Nicotine and medicines: Follow instructions on nicotine, medications and supplements before surgery.

Final preparation

• Illness: Tell the clinic about colds, sinus infection or skin inflammation before the operation.
• Transport: Arrange an adult to take you home and stay with you initially.

Anaesthesia

• General anaesthetic: Rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anaesthesia.

Reshaping

• Approach: Surgery may be open or closed depending on the planned changes.
• Bone and cartilage: The bridge, nasal bones and cartilaginous framework are reshaped as required.
• Grafts and sutures: Cartilage grafts or structural sutures can refine and support the nose.
• Splint: An external splint is commonly applied for around one week.

Week 1

• Appearance: A splint is worn; bruising around the eyes and nasal swelling are common.

Weeks 2–3

• Social recovery: Most bruising improves substantially and many patients return to work.

Weeks 4–6

• Exercise: Exercise is increased gradually while contact risk remains restricted.

6–18 months

• Refinement: The bridge settles earlier; the tip continues to refine gradually.

First week

• Splint care: Keep the external splint dry and avoid pressure on the nose.
• Head elevation: Sleep elevated and avoid bending, straining and nose blowing as directed.

Weeks 2–6

• Protect the nose: Avoid contact sport, heavy glasses pressure and situations where the nose could be knocked.
• Sun: Use high-factor sun protection while swelling and scars settle.

Early review

• What happens: The team checks wounds, swelling, comfort and any dressings during the first postoperative period.

1–2 weeks

• What happens: Incisions and early healing are reviewed; sutures or dressings are removed when appropriate and activity guidance is updated.

6 weeks

• What happens: Dr Mercer reviews recovery, scars and return to exercise, and checks that healing is progressing as expected.

3–6 months

• What happens: Progress photographs may be taken as swelling settles and scars continue to mature.

Around 1 year

• What happens: A longer-term review can be used to assess the mature result once tissues and scars have fully settled.