Considering rhinoplasty?Find out what can change, for shape and for breathing.

Different surgeons have different approaches. If you only need a hump reduced, Dr Moradi prefers a closed approach, with all incisions inside the nose. For everything else, including any work on the tip, he uses an open approach, which adds a small incision across the columella, the skin between the nostrils.

It can, if the cause is structural. A deviated septum, or enlarged turbinates (bony outcrops inside the nose), can block airflow. During rhinoplasty the septum can be straightened and the turbinates reduced, which aims to improve breathing. This can be done with or without any change in the shape of the nose.

Ideally within about two weeks, before the nasal bones set. After that, straightening needs a formal rhinoplasty, which re-sets the bones and always involves straightening the septum too. If your injury is recent, call us promptly.

Revision rhinoplasty is surgery after a previous rhinoplasty, to address concerns with shape, scar tissue or breathing. It often needs extra cartilage for support. Septal cartilage is usually used up in the first operation, so Dr Moradi may use rib cartilage, either your own or donor cartilage. What's achievable depends on the remaining tissue, scar tissue and your skin.

A closed rhinoplasty leaves no external scar. An open rhinoplasty leaves a small scar across the columella, which usually fades over the following months. Some people form thickened scars.

Risks include bleeding, infection, a blood collection needing drainage, bruising and swelling around the nose and eyes, thickened scars, slow healing (especially in smokers or people with diabetes), altered sensation in the nose, temporary numbness of the upper front teeth, dark circles under the eyes that can last six months or longer, changes in sense of smell, narrowing of the airway causing breathing difficulty, and the need for revision surgery. Dr Moradi will go through each one with you, and the full list is on his rhinoplasty page.

There are two kinds of recovery. Physical: most people feel better within two to three days and like themselves again in about a week. Social: the splint and any external stitches stay on for about ten days, and visible bruising and swelling usually last two to three weeks. Most people take one to two weeks off work. Avoid strenuous activity for two weeks and the gym for four to six weeks, sleep on your back, and don't rub the nose or bend your head forward. Dr Moradi will give you a recovery plan specific to your surgery.

The nose heals in thirds. Most visible swelling in the upper and middle nose settles within about six weeks, and most is gone by three months. The tip takes longest, usually six to twelve months and sometimes more, depending on skin thickness and the work done. Your progress is checked at follow-up appointments.

The cost depends on your surgical plan, including the hospital or day surgery fees, the anaesthetist's and surgical assistant's fees, and whether any other facial procedures are combined, so we don't publish a single figure. Rhinoplasty done purely for appearance isn't covered by Medicare or private health insurance. Where there's a documented clinical need, such as obstructed breathing or a nasal injury, part of the surgery may be eligible for a Medicare rebate and health fund cover, subject to Medicare's criteria. Check with your health fund; our team can explain what applies to you. After your consultation you'll receive a written, itemised estimate.

Yes. Australian rules require a referral from your GP before a cosmetic surgery consultation. Consultations are usually available within two to three months, and surgery is usually booked 10–12 weeks after your first consultation. You'll have a second consultation and a cooling-off period of at least seven days before surgery. Cosmetic surgery is for adults 18 and over.