Facial plastic surgery · UK
Septorhinoplasty - the airway and the shape, in one operation.
A combined functional and aesthetic operation that straightens the septum, opens the nasal airway and reshapes the external nose - dorsum, tip, columella. Delivered by facial plastic surgeons and rhinoplasty-trained ENT and plastic surgeons in the UK.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A rhinoplasty-focused surgeon
A named facial plastic surgeon, ENT rhinologist or plastic surgeon on a dedicated rhinoplasty list - not an occasional case.
- 02
The internal valve, planned
Spreader grafts to protect the airway are considered from the first consultation - not an afterthought if the airway feels worse.
- 03
The full year of aftercare
Rhinoplasty endpoints take 12 months. We book the reviews at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months before you leave the clinic.
Indicative pricing
What private Septorhinoplasty (Functional + Cosmetic) costs in the UK.
Ranges across our facial plastic surgery network. Rhinoplasty pricing depends heavily on the surgeon and the complexity of the case.
In short
Septorhinoplasty in our network: £8,500–£14,000, home the same or next day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Stay / turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facial plastic consultation with photography | £280–£500 | 45–60 min | Same visit |
| CT sinuses (if functional workup needs) | £350–£600 | 15 min | Report in 3–5 days |
| Primary septorhinoplasty (closed) | £8,500–£11,500 | 2–3 hours | Day-case |
| Primary septorhinoplasty (open, structural) | £10,000–£14,000 | 2.5–3.5 hours | Day-case or 1 night |
| Preservation rhinoplasty | £9,500–£13,500 | 2–3 hours | Day-case or 1 night |
| Ethnic rhinoplasty | £10,000–£15,000 | 2.5–3.5 hours | Day-case or 1 night |
| Non-surgical rhinoplasty (filler) | £450–£850 | 30 min | Immediate |
Prices vary by hospital, by consultant, and by the complexity of your case. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
The airway and the shape - two problems, one operation.
The commonest complaint about a rhinoplasty is that the airway got worse. The second commonest is that the result changed at six months. We fix both by choosing the right technique before consent.
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A cosmetic rhinoplasty alone breaks the airway
Reducing a dorsal hump narrows the internal valve. Without a spreader graft, the airway can be worse afterwards. Every rhinoplasty we arrange plans both.
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A functional septoplasty alone leaves the shape
For patients bothered by both the shape and the block, doing them separately costs two operations and two recoveries.
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One year to the final result
Modern septorhinoplasty is safe and predictable - but the final aesthetic endpoint takes 12 months. We say so up front, not after.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through follow-up.
Phase 1 · Before
Assessment, imaging and planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Procedure and recovery
Phase 3 · After
Results, follow-up and review
- 01
Before
You tell us what you want to change
A short, confidential form. What bothers you about the shape, whether you can breathe through both sides, any previous nasal surgery.
- 02
Before
We come back with a route
Within one working day: which surgeon, preservation or structural approach, and an indicative price for the functional and aesthetic components.
- 03
Before
Consultation with photography
Facial analysis, endoscopy, morphing software preview at some units. Consent covers both functional and aesthetic components.
- 04
Before
Pre-op checks and lifestyle
Bloods, blood thinner review, smoking cessation, skincare plan for the healing months. A collection lift arranged.
- 05
On the day
Admission and surgery
Same-day admission, GA, 2–4 hours in theatre. Splint and tapes at the end.
- 06
On the day
Discharge same or next day
Home with written aftercare, saline spray, analgesia and a nurse contact number.
- 07
After
Reviews out to twelve months
1 week (splint off), 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. Final aesthetic endpoint at one year.
Typical end-to-end: 6–10 weeks from consultation to surgery. Airway settled by 3 months; final aesthetic endpoint 12 months.
When it helps
When Septorhinoplasty (Functional + Cosmetic) is the right step.
The situations where a combined operation is the right answer, and the flags that mean a revision or reconstructive route (see graft/implant page).
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Dorsal hump with airway obstruction
The commonest indication - the patient does not like the profile and cannot breathe through one side.
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Post-traumatic deviation with a bump
An old fracture that shifted the septum and left a visible bump - corrected in one operation.
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Wide bony vault or drooping tip
Aesthetic concerns with a coexisting deviated septum - a very common combined pattern.
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Internal valve collapse
A pinched appearance to the middle third with dynamic collapse on inspiration - needs spreader grafts, planned in the same operation.
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External valve collapse
The alar rims collapse inwards on breathing - needs alar batten or lateral crural grafts alongside the septal work.
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Ethnic or preservation rhinoplasty
Where the aim is refinement rather than reduction - preservation techniques keep the dorsal lines and reshape underneath.
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Congenital asymmetry
A twisted nose from birth or early growth - combined structural correction of septum and external shape.
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Red flag: previous nasal surgery with collapse
A saddle nose or airway collapse after prior surgery is a reconstructive case with cartilage grafts or implants - see the graft/implant page.
Technique options
One operation, one anaesthetic - chosen from a modern rhinoplasty toolkit.
What each option involves, and when we recommend it.
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Open (external) approach
A small trans-columellar incision opens the skin off the framework. The workhorse for complex tips, revisions and structural grafting. Small scar heals well.
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Closed (endonasal) approach
All incisions inside the nose. Best for straightforward dorsal reduction and minor tip work. Less swelling, no external scar.
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Preservation rhinoplasty
The dorsal keystone is preserved and lowered en bloc rather than resected. Natural dorsal lines, less disruption, faster recovery in the right anatomy.
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Structural (component) rhinoplasty
The classical modern approach - the hump is separated into cartilage and bony components and each is addressed. Reliable in complex and revision cases.
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Spreader grafts for the internal valve
Small cartilage strips placed between the septum and the upper lateral cartilages - prevents the airway narrowing that follows dorsal reduction.
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Tip refinement
Suture technique for symmetry and definition; cartilage grafts (columellar strut, tip grafts) where more structural support is needed.
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Osteotomies
Controlled fractures of the nasal bones to narrow the bony vault or straighten a deviated pyramid.
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Non-surgical rhinoplasty (alternative)
For small aesthetic changes only - hyaluronic filler in the hands of an experienced injector. Not a substitute for functional work.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of specialists, we picked them.
Consultants across London and the major UK cities. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every specialist in our network.
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Rhinoplasty-focused facial plastic surgeons, ENT surgeons or plastic surgeons with high case volume
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Preoperative photography and computer simulation available
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Access to structural, preservation and revision techniques - not one-technique lists
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Named nurse coordinator for the year of aesthetic follow-up
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
Septorhinoplasty is a well-established operation. The risks worth planning are the length of the aesthetic endpoint, the internal valve, and the small revision rate that comes with any rhinoplasty.
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GA in a proper theatre
General anaesthetic, 2–4 hours in theatre. Most patients go home the same day; some stay one night for comfort.
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Swelling, bruising, black eyes
Bruising around the eyes for 10–14 days is normal. Swelling of the tip continues for months and is the reason final results take 12 months.
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Bleeding
Some ooze for 24–48 hours. Significant bleeding requiring theatre is rare (under 1 percent).
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Numbness of the tip and upper teeth
Common in the first months. Usually settles by 6–12 months.
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Airway that gets worse before better
The airway is congested for 4–6 weeks. If spreader grafts were needed and placed, the final airway is better than baseline. If they were skipped, it may not be.
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Asymmetry or unexpected result
Minor asymmetry after rhinoplasty is common while swelling settles. Persistent asymmetry at 12 months affects a small proportion and may warrant revision.
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Revision rate
Even in experienced hands, 5–10 percent of septorhinoplasties are revised - usually for minor refinements at 12 months or later.
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Infection, skin issues, telangiectasia
Wound infection under 2 percent. Skin thinning and small dilated vessels are uncommon and often treatable.
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Red flags after surgery
Heavy bleeding, spreading redness, fever, sudden vision change or diplopia - same-day surgical team or A&E, not a routine call.
Reading your report
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whether open or closed, whether preservation or structural, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Medical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the report before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and approach
Why the operation was done, whether open or closed, and the balance of functional and aesthetic goals.
- 02 Technique
Dorsal, septal and tip work
Preservation or structural technique, osteotomies performed, spreader grafts placed, and tip refinement moves.
- 03 Findings
Intraoperative photography and framework
Cartilage quality, any grafts harvested from the septum, and the intraoperative photography markers.
- 04 Plan
Aftercare and 12-month endpoint
Read this first: splint off at 7 days, taping schedule, follow-up dates and when the final result is assessed.
Recognised by major UK insurers
The functional component of septorhinoplasty (septum and airway work) is often covered by UK insurers where medically indicated. The cosmetic component is patient-funded. Most cases are a private-pay arrangement - we itemise the split.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about Septorhinoplasty (Functional + Cosmetic).
Quick answers on splints, timing, work and the difference between functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty.
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Will insurance cover any of it?
The functional component - septal work, valve grafts, airway correction - is often covered where medically indicated. The purely aesthetic component (hump reduction, tip refinement, osteotomies for narrowing) is patient-funded. Most UK cases end up as a private-pay arrangement; we itemise the split and confirm cover before booking.
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Open or closed approach?
Open (with a small trans-columellar scar) gives the best access for complex tips, revisions and structural grafting. Closed (all internal) is best for straightforward dorsal reductions and minor tip work with less swelling. The right answer depends on the anatomy and the goal - the consultation decides.
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When can I go back to work?
Most people take one to two weeks off - one week for the splint and bruising, a second for feeling presentable. Contact sport, weights and yoga wait six weeks. Sun protection for six months to avoid pigmentation over the healing tissues.
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How long until the final result?
The nose looks presentable at 2–3 weeks, good at 3 months, and reaches its final aesthetic endpoint at 12 months. Thick skin takes longer than thin skin. We plan reviews at 1 week, 6 weeks, 3, 6 and 12 months.
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How much does septorhinoplasty cost in the UK?
Roughly £8,500–£14,000 privately, depending on the surgeon, complexity and whether it is a revision. Ethnic and preservation techniques sit in the same range. Revision rhinoplasty typically £11,000–£18,000 - see the graft/implant page for reconstructive cases.
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What is the difference between this and a plain rhinoplasty?
A plain rhinoplasty addresses only the external shape. A septorhinoplasty adds septal correction and airway work in the same operation. Because reshaping the outside of the nose almost always affects the inside, most modern rhinoplasties are technically septorhinoplasties even when marketed as cosmetic.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Septorhinoplasty with graft or implant
Reconstructive route for collapse or revision.
Learn more -
Septoplasty
Airway-only operation.
Learn more -
Rhinoplasty
The purely cosmetic operation.
Learn more -
Non-surgical rhinoplasty
Filler for small aesthetic changes.
Learn more -
Nasal blockage surgery
Wider airway procedures.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every treatment we arrange.
Learn more