Septorhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

• When? Late adolescence/early childhood. If orthognathic surgery is planned, it should happen afterwards
• Why? This operation can be used to improve breathing through the nose, or to change the appearance of the nose. Having a cleft lip can change the way your nose looks, and if this is something you don’t like, it is sometimes possible to change the bits you don’t like with surgery. Surgery is not always the answer though, so it is important that you have a clear sense of how you would like your nose to change before you meet with your cleft surgeon to discuss septorhinoplasty.
• How? You will be asleep for this operation. We will make some small cuts in your nostrils and columella (skin between your nostrils). Then we use a combination of techniques to reshape the cartiglage of nose. This can involve stitching, shaving, and repositioning cartilage. Sometimes we use donor cartilage that has been cleaned and processed if we need to add extra cartilage in.
  • Before the operation:
    • We may ask you to see our psychology team to speak to them about what you hope to achieve with surgery
    • If you have a nose piercing, you will be asked to remove this at least 2 weeks prior to surgery to minimise infection risk
  • On the day of surgery:
    • You will receive instructions on when you need to stop eating and drinking before the operation
    • If you are being treated in Manchester, you will come to (location)
    • If you are being treated in Liverpool, you will come to (location)
  • Going home:
    • You will go home on the same day as your operation
  • Aftercare:
    • Dressings: You will have a dressing on your nose following the operation which will stay on until your surgeon reviews you.
    • Pain relief: We will provide you with painkillers to take home after the procedure
    • Blowing your nose: please avoid this for 2 weeks following the operation
    • Contact sports: avoid these for 6 weeks minimum
  • What are the risks?
    • Swelling and bruising: The nose is usually quite swollen following this operation and this can also extend to the eyes. Most of the swelling will go down in the first 3 weeks, but some can persist for several months
    • Scarring: The scars are usually subtle, but can be red and lumpy.
    • Infection: This will usually be treated with oral antibiotics.
    • Blocked nose: Sometimes swelling or scarring will cause a blockage of the nose which can be permanent
    • Asymmetry: No nose is symmetrical, and neither will yours be following this operation. However, if symmetry was a problem for you before, we hope that it would be better following this surgery.
    • Septal perforation: This is a small hole connecting the two nostrils in the middle

External links:

• • • CLAPA: Https://com/support-and-community/teenagers-young-people/understanding-operations/#nose
    • Evelina leaflet: https://evelinalondon.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/cleft-septorhinoplasty.pdf