If youre keen to transform the appearance of your nose, youll be joining a long list of Brits whove decided to have rinoplasty.

What is it? Nose reshaping surgery is the procedure commonly known as rhinoplasty or having a nose job includes surgery to reshape the nose. Rhinoplasty showing a sharp increase of 34% in its popularity in the last year has come out as one of the top 5 surgical procedures for men and women. British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (www.baaps.org.uk) stated it as the most admired plastic surgery procedure among men.

Nose jobs have the ability to change the size of the nose in its whole, removing a bump, modifying the shape of the bridge or the tip of your nose and tapering the nostril openings. There are two main types of surgery: reduction and augmentation (which makes the nose larger). Tip reshaping or tip-plasty is also popular. Consultant plastic surgeon from the West London Clinic (www.westlondonclinic.co.uk) think that the nose can be called a balanced nose only if its tip is in proportion. Alex Karidis one of the leading cosmetic surgeons in London comments that gone are those days when people use to have to large size button nose. Now people prefer to have proper shaped nose making reduction the most admired type of rhinoplasty.

What can it do for you? The goal for most of the patients considering rhinoplasty is to improve the look of their nose as declared by Mr Kalpesh Patel an ear, nose and throat surgeon. Plastic surgeons are able to correct deformities in your nose and make you feel better about how it looks. This, certainly, translates to more confidence on your side. Rhinoplasty can also rectify a birth defect or injury as well as alleviate breathing problems. Mr Ion says that generally, adults of higher age bracket prefer to have rhinoplasty due to drooping of the nose happening in most of the people. Since the tip becomes bigger with the rising age due to loosening of the fat from the nose.

The rhinoplasty method

Your surgeon will make cuts inside your nostrils to reach the bone and cartilage. The shape of your nose will then be made by slightly removing and re-shaping the bone and cartilage. The closed technique of rhinoplasty comprises of all cuts being made inside the nose. The cartilage is then removed from the nose and shaped without any rsik of getting a scar. Mr. Patel comments that a procedure now gaining popularity is open rhinoplasty, where the nose skin is peeled back to get easy access and allow a surgeon to watch what theyre doing, rather than relying on feeling their way. This procedure produces just a small scar on the columella (the skin between the nostrils), which should disappear over time.

Rhinoplasty cost Costs vary from place to place but is generally between 3,000 to 4,000.

Recovery time

When you wake up from surgery, you may have facial bruises and swelling thatll give you the appearance of having been in a fight. This will persist for around 14 days. Your reshaped nose will be held in place with a splint or plaster cast for about a week. A little bleeding is normal after a rhinoplasty and you may have a stuffy feeling nose for a few weeks which will disappear after 6-12 months. Prevent from strenuous activities, take sunbathe to avoid bleeding.

Risks associated with rhinoplasty Every surgery contains some uncertainty and risk and rhinoplasty is no different. There is a risk of infection and of having a reaction to the anesthetic. After surgery, small burst blood vessels may come out as tiny red spots on the surface of the skin. These are usually small, but may be everlasting. Excessive removal of cartilage can create breathing problems and affects the appearance as well. On a more positive note, some people find that rhinoplasty can actually help to ease their breathing difficulties.

How much reliable is rhinoplasty? In about one example out of ten, a second procedure may be needed-for example, to rectify a minor deformity. The corrective surgery is generally minor. The rhinoplasty surgery results will not be instantly visible. Some residual puffiness will persist for six months to a year after the rhinoplasty operation. The ultimate outcomes will not be apparent until this puffiness has completely lessen.