Concierge facial plastic surgery · UK
Private surgical rhinoplasty, by a BAAPS or BAO-HNS surgeon.
A proper nose reshaping operation - cosmetic, functional or both - by a facial plastic or ENT-facial plastic surgeon in a CQC-registered theatre, with a mandatory cooling-off period and a twelve-month view of the result.
Why patients choose us
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A BAAPS or BAO-HNS surgeon, in a CQC theatre
Not a filler clinic and not a training room. A named facial plastic or ENT-facial plastic surgeon, a proper theatre, and a full anaesthetic team.
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Function and form on the same table
If the septum is deviated or the valve is collapsed, we say so - a combined septorhinoplasty often makes more sense than a cosmetic-only operation.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private rhinoplasty costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three surgeons.
In short
A cosmetic rhinoplasty in our network: £6,000–£12,000, with a twelve-month settle.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic rhinoplasty | £6,000–£12,000 | 2–3 hr GA | Overnight stay |
| Septorhinoplasty (function + form) | £7,000–£14,000 | 3–4 hr GA | Overnight stay |
| Ethnic / complex primary rhinoplasty | £9,000–£16,000 | 3–4 hr GA | Overnight stay |
| Revision rhinoplasty | £10,000–£18,000 | 3–5 hr GA | Overnight stay |
| Preservation rhinoplasty | £7,000–£12,000 | 2–3 hr GA | Overnight stay |
| Consultation with photography and morphing | £250–£450 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by surgeon seniority, by CQC facility, by how complex the case is (ethnic and revision work sit at the top of the range), and by whether cartilage grafts are needed from the ear or rib. NHS funding is only available for functional indications - a deviated septum causing obstruction, or a saddle-nose deformity from previous injury - never for cosmetic reasons. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The right surgeon, the right technique, the right expectations.
Rhinoplasty is one of the least forgiving cosmetic operations - over-resection cannot be undone, and roughly one in eight primary patients seeks a revision. We fix all three variables before you commit.
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Not sure it should be surgical?
For small dorsal irregularities, a non-surgical liquid rhinoplasty might do - we say so before you agree to an operation.
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Worried about the result?
Standardised photography, morphing and a cooling-off period are how expectations get aligned before, not after.
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Want it done once?
A BAAPS or BAO-HNS surgeon in a CQC theatre - with the right sub-specialty for a cosmetic, ethnic or revision case.
The journey
From enquiry to the long settle - what happens, in order.
One surgeon from first message to final review - with the cooling-off period and twelve-month settle built in.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A full day at the hospital
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what you want changed
A short, confidential form. Cosmetic concern, breathing problem, previous surgery, and any reference photos you have.
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Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: which surgeon, whether it is cosmetic, functional or combined, and an indicative price. If a non-surgical option would do the job, we say so.
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Before
Consultation with photography
Standardised photographs, external and internal nasal examination, and morphing or simulation to align expectations before you commit.
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Before
A mandatory cooling-off period
A pause between consultation and surgery is a requirement, not a formality. Smoking stops for at least two weeks, aspirin and NSAIDs for one.
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On the day
The procedure itself
General anaesthetic with IV sedation, two to four hours in a proper theatre. Open or closed technique, with piezo-electric bone work where it helps.
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On the day
Home the next day
An external splint stays on for five to seven days, internal packing usually comes out within 24 hours. Someone should collect you.
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After
Recovery and the long settle
Swelling and bruising over two to four weeks, splint off at a week, back to a desk at 10–14 days. Final shape at twelve to eighteen months.
Typical end-to-end: 4–8 weeks from enquiry to surgery. Full settle: 12–18 months.
When it helps
When surgical rhinoplasty is the right step.
The cosmetic and functional problems that respond to a proper rhinoplasty - and the ones best done as a combined septorhinoplasty.
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Dorsal hump
A visible bump on the bridge - reduced with piezo-electric bone work or preserved beneath the dorsal aesthetic lines.
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Bulbous or drooping tip
A wide, round or plunging tip refined with cartilage suturing and, where needed, small grafts.
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Wide nasal bones or asymmetry
Narrowing osteotomies straighten the bony vault and correct a nose that leans off the midline.
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Over- or under-projection
A nose that projects too far from - or sits too flat against - the face is reset in proportion to the chin and forehead.
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Ethnic rhinoplasty
Augmentation with grafts or, occasionally, implants for Asian, African or Middle Eastern noses - preserving cultural character.
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Nasal obstruction from the septum
A deviated septum blocking one nostril - corrected as a septoplasty, combined with cosmetic work as septorhinoplasty.
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Collapsed nasal valve or saddle nose
Internal valve collapse and a saddle-nose deformity from previous fracture or septal loss - rebuilt with structural cartilage grafts.
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Revision after previous surgery
Ten to fifteen per cent of primary patients seek revision - more complex, more expensive, and best done by a revision-specialist surgeon.
Techniques
One nose, several ways to reshape it.
The main techniques a modern rhinoplasty surgeon draws from - chosen to fit your anatomy and your goals, not the other way round.
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Open rhinoplasty
A small columellar incision plus degloving of soft tissue for direct visualisation - the workhorse for complex reshaping and cartilage grafting.
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Closed (endonasal) rhinoplasty
Incisions inside the nostrils only, no external scar and a shorter recovery - well suited to more limited reshaping.
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Preservation rhinoplasty
A newer approach that preserves the dorsal aesthetic lines without full hump removal - chosen for the right anatomy.
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Piezo-electric (ultrasonic)
Ultrasonic instruments reshape the nasal bones precisely, with less bruising than a traditional osteotome.
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Septorhinoplasty
Cosmetic reshaping combined with septal correction in the same anaesthetic - sensible when breathing and appearance both need addressing.
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Ethnic rhinoplasty
Augmentation techniques - cartilage grafts and, occasionally, implants - that respect and preserve ethnic character.
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Revision rhinoplasty
A repeat operation to correct a poor cosmetic result or a functional problem from previous surgery - technically demanding and best done once.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether surgery is the right step, which technique fits and what a realistic result looks like - no obligation.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of surgeons, we picked them.
BAAPS, BAPRAS and BAO-HNS-registered facial plastic and ENT-facial plastic surgeons across the UK. Not listed publicly - introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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BAAPS, BAPRAS or BAO-HNS-registered consultant surgeons, not trainees
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CQC-registered theatre with a consultant anaesthetist and overnight facilities
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Standardised photography and morphing or simulation at every consultation
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A mandatory cooling-off period between consultation and surgery
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Rhinoplasty is safe in the right hands, but it is not a lunchtime procedure. Realistic expectations, a twelve-month settle and awareness of the revision rate matter as much as the operation itself.
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Bruising and swelling are guaranteed
Two to four weeks of visible swelling and bruising, worst in the first five to ten days. “Raccoon eyes” under the lower lids are common and normal.
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Splint off at five to seven days
The external splint protects the new shape while bone begins to set. Internal packing usually comes out within 24 hours.
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No sport for four to six weeks
Walking is fine from day one. Running, gym and cycling wait a month; contact sport and boxing wait six months.
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No glasses on the nose for six weeks
Weight on the bridge while the bones are healing can shift the result. Contact lenses or taped glasses in the meantime.
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Final shape at twelve to eighteen months
The nose keeps settling for a year or more - the tip is the last to refine. A result at three months is not the final result.
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Revision is common - 10 to 15 per cent
Even in good hands, roughly one in eight primary patients seeks a revision. Better to get the first one right, with the right surgeon.
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Rare but real complications
Bleeding, infection, septal perforation, prolonged swelling, altered smell (usually recovers), skin problems in smokers, and - very rarely - a CSF leak.
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The “over-operated” look is irreversible
Over-resection of cartilage and bone cannot be undone. A conservative first operation, done well, is the safest starting point.
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Red flags
Heavy bleeding, spreading redness, a fever, sudden severe pain or a clear watery nasal discharge after surgery all warrant same-day medical review.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and technique chosen
Why the operation was done - cosmetic, functional or combined - and whether an open, closed or preservation technique was used.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic and surgical detail
General anaesthetic with IV sedation, the osteotomies and cartilage work performed, and any grafts harvested from septum, ear or rib.
- 03 Findings
Septum, valves and any anatomical notes
Notes on the septum, the internal and external nasal valves, turbinates, and any incidental findings from the operation.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, splint timing and long settle
Read this first: what to expect in the next two weeks, when the splint comes off, sport restrictions, and the twelve-month settling window.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for rhinoplasty depends on indication - insurers usually fund septorhinoplasty for a genuine functional problem, and never fund cosmetic-only surgery. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about rhinoplasty.
Quick answers on cost, technique, recovery, ethnic and revision work, and how to choose a surgeon.
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Is surgical rhinoplasty different from a non-surgical “liquid nose job”?
Yes - completely. Surgical rhinoplasty reshapes bone and cartilage under general anaesthetic and lasts a lifetime. Non-surgical rhinoplasty uses dermal filler to camouflage small irregularities and lasts nine to eighteen months. Filler cannot make a nose smaller and cannot fix breathing.
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How much does a private rhinoplasty cost in the UK?
Roughly £6,000–£12,000 for a cosmetic rhinoplasty, £7,000–£14,000 for a septorhinoplasty, £9,000–£16,000 for a complex ethnic case and £10,000–£18,000 for a revision. NHS funding is only available for functional problems - a deviated septum or a saddle nose from a previous fracture - never for cosmetic work.
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Open or closed rhinoplasty - which is better?
Neither is universally better. Open gives direct visualisation and suits complex reshaping, cartilage grafting and revision work - at the cost of a small columellar scar (usually well hidden). Closed leaves no external scar and recovers a little faster, but suits more limited reshaping. Your surgeon chooses to fit your anatomy, not the other way round.
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How long is the recovery?
Swelling and bruising are worst for five to ten days, the splint comes off at five to seven days, most people are back at a desk in ten to fourteen days, and off sport for four to six weeks (six months for contact sport). The final shape settles over twelve to eighteen months - the tip is the slowest to refine.
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What is the difference between rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty?
A rhinoplasty reshapes the external nose. A septoplasty straightens the internal septum to improve breathing. A septorhinoplasty is both, done in the same anaesthetic - sensible when the septum is deviated and the outside also needs work. It is not more dangerous than a rhinoplasty alone.
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Can I have my nose “broken and reset” without the swelling?
No - the bruising and swelling come with the territory. Piezo-electric (ultrasonic) instruments reshape bone more precisely than a traditional osteotome and typically produce less bruising, but the healing timeline is unchanged.
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What is ethnic rhinoplasty?
A rhinoplasty tailored to Asian, African or Middle Eastern noses, which often need augmentation with cartilage grafts (or, occasionally, implants) rather than reduction. The aim is to refine within the patient’s own facial framework - not to produce a “western” nose.
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What are the real risks of rhinoplasty?
Bleeding, infection, septal perforation, a poor cosmetic result requiring revision (10–15 per cent), prolonged swelling, asymmetry, ongoing nasal obstruction if an internal valve is not preserved, altered smell (usually recovers), a columellar scar with open technique (usually well-hidden), skin necrosis in smokers, unrealistic expectations, an “over-operated” appearance from over-resection (irreversible), a rare CSF leak, and standard anaesthetic risks.
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How do I choose a surgeon?
A consultant on the BAAPS, BAPRAS or BAO-HNS register, operating in a CQC-registered facility, offering a mandatory cooling-off period, showing you standardised before-and-after photography of their own patients, and - for revision or ethnic cases - with a subspecialty interest that matches your problem.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Non-surgical rhinoplasty
Temporary filler-based reshaping for small irregularities.
Learn more -
Nasal septum surgery
Septoplasty for a deviated septum causing obstruction.
Learn more -
Nasal blockage surgery
Turbinate reduction and valve repair for a blocked nose.
Learn more -
All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more