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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.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

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

£8,500–£14,000, home the same or next day.

Procedure Indicative range
Facial plastic consultation with photography £280–£500
CT sinuses (if functional workup needs) £350–£600
Primary septorhinoplasty (closed) £8,500–£11,500
Primary septorhinoplasty (open, structural) £10,000–£14,000
Preservation rhinoplasty £9,500–£13,500
Ethnic rhinoplasty £10,000–£15,000
Non-surgical rhinoplasty (filler) £450–£850

Prices vary by hospital, by consultant, and by the complexity of your case.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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).

  • Dorsal hump with airway obstruction

    The commonest indication - the patient does not like the profile and cannot breathe through one side.

  • Post-traumatic deviation with a bump

    An old fracture that shifted the septum and left a visible bump - corrected in one operation.

  • Wide bony vault or drooping tip

    Aesthetic concerns with a coexisting deviated septum - a very common combined pattern.

  • Internal valve collapse

    A pinched appearance to the middle third with dynamic collapse on inspiration - needs spreader grafts, planned in the same operation.

  • External valve collapse

    The alar rims collapse inwards on breathing - needs alar batten or lateral crural grafts alongside the septal work.

  • Ethnic or preservation rhinoplasty

    Where the aim is refinement rather than reduction - preservation techniques keep the dorsal lines and reshape underneath.

  • Congenital asymmetry

    A twisted nose from birth or early growth - combined structural correction of septum and external shape.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Closed (endonasal) approach

    All incisions inside the nose. Best for straightforward dorsal reduction and minor tip work. Less swelling, no external scar.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Tip refinement

    Suture technique for symmetry and definition; cartilage grafts (columellar strut, tip grafts) where more structural support is needed.

  • Osteotomies

    Controlled fractures of the nasal bones to narrow the bony vault or straighten a deviated pyramid.

  • Non-surgical rhinoplasty (alternative)

    For small aesthetic changes only - hyaluronic filler in the hands of an experienced injector. Not a substitute for functional work.

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Bleeding

    Some ooze for 24–48 hours. Significant bleeding requiring theatre is rare (under 1 percent).

  • Numbness of the tip and upper teeth

    Common in the first months. Usually settles by 6–12 months.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Revision rate

    Even in experienced hands, 5–10 percent of septorhinoplasties are revised - usually for minor refinements at 12 months or later.

  • Infection, skin issues, telangiectasia

    Wound infection under 2 percent. Skin thinning and small dilated vessels are uncommon and often treatable.

  • 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 UK consultant reviewing notes with a patient - Septorhinoplasty (Functional + Cosmetic)

A quiet reminder

Medical language is precise and can read coldly - ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

Ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

  1. 01 Header

    Indication and approach

    Why the operation was done, whether open or closed, and the balance of functional and aesthetic goals.

  2. 02 Technique

    Dorsal, septal and tip work

    Preservation or structural technique, osteotomies performed, spreader grafts placed, and tip refinement moves.

  3. 03 Findings

    Intraoperative photography and framework

    Cartilage quality, any grafts harvested from the septum, and the intraoperative photography markers.

  4. 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

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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