Surgical · Face
Consultant-led nose surgery — primary and revision — designed around your facial proportions, not a template. Subtle, balanced and structurally sound.
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Hello!
Medically reviewed by Dr Hassan SoueidConsultant Cosmetic & Plastic Surgeon
Overview
Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) is the surgical reshaping of the bone, cartilage and soft tissue of the nose to refine its size, profile, tip definition or breathing function. It is one of the most technically demanding procedures in plastic surgery — millimetres make a visible difference.
At Kensington Cosmetic Clinic rhinoplasty is performed personally by Dr Hassan Soueid using either closed (endonasal) or open (external columellar) approaches, depending on the complexity of the case. Functional concerns — septal deviation, breathing obstruction — are addressed in the same operation where present.
Our brief is restraint. The post-operative nose should fit your face. It should look like the nose you might have been born with — not a different nose grafted onto your features.
A rhinoplasty done well should be impossible to spot. Friends notice you look better, not different.
How it works
A schematic of the most common rhinoplasty indication — dorsal-hump reduction. The surgical plan is mapped on your own anatomy at consultation; what is removed is conservative, what remains is yours.
Before
The pre-operative profile — dorsal hump, tip projection, alar base width all assessed in five-view photography.
Surgical plan
Bone and cartilage adjustment mapped onto the patient's own nose. Septoplasty added where breathing is also a concern.
After
A refined profile that fits the rest of your face. Final result settles over 12 months as residual swelling resolves.
How it works
A diagram of the procedure. Hover any pulsing marker to see how each anatomical layer is treated by Dr Hassan.
Hover or tap any highlighted region
Illustration is anatomical only — the procedure is tailored individually at consultation.
Treated Areas
Rhinoplasty is rarely a single change. Most cases involve coordinated refinement across multiple zones of the nose to keep proportions natural.
Dorsal hump
A bump on the bridge of the nose, often inherited. Reduced via controlled bone and cartilage shaping for a smooth, natural profile.
Saddle deformity
An over-reduced or collapsed dorsum, often from prior surgery or trauma. Restored with cartilage grafts (typically from the septum or rib).
Hanging columella
When the strip of tissue between the nostrils sits too low. Addressed with conservative tissue and cartilage refinement.
Bulbous tip
A wide, undefined nasal tip. Refined through suture techniques and conservative cartilage shaping — never aggressive resection.
Drooping tip
A tip that points downward, often pronounced when smiling. Lifted using suture and grafting techniques to set a natural rotation.
Tip projection
How far the tip extends from the face. Adjusted with septal extension grafts or careful conservative reduction.
Septal deviation
A deviated septum can compromise breathing and skew the external appearance. Septoplasty is performed in the same operation where indicated.
Wide nostrils / alar base
Reduced via conservative alar base reduction (Weir excisions) only where proportionally indicated — never aggressive narrowing.
Internal valve collapse
A common cause of obstructed breathing post-rhinoplasty. Treated with spreader grafts to keep the airway open during inspiration.
Candidate
Benefits at KCC
Investment
Every patient is different — the area, technique and number of stages shape the plan. We share full pricing during your private consultation, after Dr Hassan or your treating clinician has reviewed your goals in person.
Before
Rhinoplasty preparation begins six weeks before surgery. Stopping smoking and any blood-thinning medications is non-negotiable for a safe outcome.
Approach
Both surgical approaches are available at KCC. The choice is made on case complexity, not surgeon preference.
Approach 1
All incisions are placed inside the nostrils — there is no external scar. Best suited to dorsal-hump reduction, mild tip refinement and cases where structural grafting is not required.
Approach 2
A small incision is made across the columella (the strip of tissue between the nostrils), allowing direct visualisation of the nasal cartilages. The scar is fine and typically invisible at 6 months. Required for complex tip work, revision cases and major structural grafting.
Dr Hassan selects the approach during consultation, after examining your nose and discussing your goals.
The Treatment
A minimum of two consultations is required before booking rhinoplasty surgery. Pre-operative photographs are taken in standardised lighting from five views; computer imaging may be reviewed together to align expectations.
Performed under general anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre. Operative time is typically 2–4 hours, longer for complex revision cases.
Most patients are discharged the same day. The first review is at 24 hours, and the splint is removed at day 7.
Step by Step
From the first consultation to the final twelve-month review — what to expect at every stage of rhinoplasty surgery at KCC.
01 · The Consultation
A minimum of two consultations before booking. Five-view standardised photography, breathing assessment and a frank discussion of what surgery can — and cannot — achieve for your specific anatomy. Computer imaging is reviewed where useful.
02 · Preparation
Six weeks of smoking cessation. Two weeks off blood-thinners and supplements. We confirm any septal correction, plan the operative approach (closed or open) and review the day-of-surgery logistics together.
03 · The Procedure
Performed personally by Dr Hassan under general anaesthetic in our CQC-registered theatre. Bone and cartilage are reshaped in millimetres — never aggressively reduced. Septoplasty is performed in the same operation where breathing is a concern. An external splint is fitted for the first seven days.
04 · Recovery & Aftercare
Splint removal at day seven. Most patients return to social activity at week two. Substantial swelling resolves by week six; the fine residual swelling at the tip can take twelve to eighteen months in thicker-skinned noses. We review at one week, six weeks, three months, six months and twelve months.
After
Rhinoplasty is not a painful surgery — most patients describe it as pressure rather than pain. Bruising and swelling settle substantially by week 2, but final shape evolves over 12 months.
Results
Rhinoplasty results unfold over a year. The nose you see at the splint removal is not the final nose.
Questions
Done well, no. The objective is a nose that fits your face and goes unnoticed. Friends and colleagues typically notice you look better-rested, but cannot identify what has changed. Aggressive over-reduction is the signature of poor rhinoplasty — never our brief.
External swelling is largely resolved by 6 weeks. The fine residual swelling at the tip — particularly relevant for thicker-skinned noses — can take 12–18 months to fully settle. Patience during this period is essential.
Most patients describe it as pressure, congestion and a heavy-headed sensation rather than pain. Discomfort is controlled with paracetamol; opioids are rarely needed. Sleep is the main difficulty for the first week (you must sleep on your back, head elevated).
Yes — if your breathing concern is structural (deviated septum, internal valve collapse, enlarged turbinates). Functional surgery is performed in the same operation. Where breathing is the primary concern and aesthetic change is not required, septoplasty alone may be sufficient and is often covered by health insurance.
Liquid rhinoplasty (filler-based) is offered at KCC for the right indications — typically masking a small dorsal hump or rebalancing a slightly drooping tip. It cannot reduce the size of a nose, only add to it. Where structural change is needed, surgery is the right answer.
Yes. Dr Hassan accepts revision cases where the timing is appropriate (typically 12 months after the original surgery). Revision rhinoplasty is more complex than primary surgery — please bring all available records, photographs and operative notes from your prior procedure to the consultation.
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