Rhinoplasty (Nose Reshaping Surgery)

Surgical rhinoplasty to refine nasal shape, reduce a hump, narrow the tip, or correct asymmetry using open or closed technique. Open rhinoplasty provides maximum visualisation for complex reshaping; closed rhinoplasty keeps all incisions inside the nostrils for more limited refinements. Techniques include spreader grafts and cartilage flaps for structural reconstruction. Recovery involves a nasal splint for one to two weeks.

Dr. Kolker's rhinoplasty practice addresses a broad spectrum of nasal concerns — from hump reduction and tip refinement to asymmetry correction, airway obstruction, and post-traumatic or revision cases. Open rhinoplasty uses a small transcolumellar incision that allows the nasal skin to be elevated as a flap, exposing the full cartilaginous and bony skeleton. This approach is preferred for complex reshaping where the surgeon requires maximum visualisation and access: tip reconstruction using cartilage grafts (spreader grafts to widen a collapsed middle vault, shield or cap grafts to project or refine the tip), significant dorsal hump reduction with osteotomies, or cases requiring structural rebuilding with autologous cartilage from the ear concha or rib. The closed approach keeps all incisions hidden inside the nostrils, leaving no external scar; it is suited to patients requiring more limited correction such as tip suture refinement or modest hump reduction without structural grafting. The choice between open and closed is determined by the complexity and extent of correction needed — Dr. Kolker selects the least invasive approach that reliably achieves the desired structural result. Rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia in the accredited on-site surgery suite; procedure duration is typically two to three hours. Post-operatively, a rigid nasal splint is worn for one to two weeks to protect the refined structures during early consolidation. Visible swelling resolves progressively — most daily activities can resume in two weeks, though subtle tip swelling and final contour refinement continue to emerge over twelve months as the overlying skin adapts to the new framework beneath.