Rhinoplasty, or a nose job, is not a single operation but a family of techniques, and the right one depends entirely on your nose and your goal. Some types reduce a bump on the bridge, some build up a low or flat bridge, some refine the tip, some improve breathing, some rebuild support in a revision, and some avoid surgery altogether. This guide explains the different types of rhinoplasty and nose surgery clearly, with real before-and-after results from our own patients for most of them, so you can see what each type actually changes and find the one that fits you. It is reviewed by a consultant plastic surgeon, and every type links through to a page with more detail.
Key Takeaways
- "Rhinoplasty" covers many types of nose surgery, grouped by technique (open or closed), by aim (cosmetic, functional, or both) and by what changes (reduction, augmentation, tip, hump, ethnic, revision).
- Open and closed rhinoplasty are the two techniques, not two results; closed leaves no visible scar, open gives the surgeon more access for complex work.
- Most nose jobs combine several elements in one operation, for example reducing a hump and refining the tip at the same time.
- Not all nose reshaping is surgical: non-surgical rhinoplasty uses dermal filler to smooth small irregularities without an operation.
- The best type is the one matched to your anatomy and goal, which is why an in-person assessment with an experienced rhinoplasty surgeon matters more than choosing a "type" in advance.
Types Of Rhinoplasty At A Glance
Here are the main types of rhinoplasty and nose surgery, including the different types of nose jobs, what each one is for, and where to read more. Most sections below show real before-and-after results.
| Type of rhinoplasty | What it does | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Open vs closed | The two surgical techniques (incision hidden inside the nose, or a tiny external one for more access). | Open vs closed |
| Cosmetic vs functional | Cosmetic changes the shape of the nose; functional aims to improve breathing; a septorhinoplasty does both. | Septorhinoplasty |
| Dorsal hump reduction | Removes or reduces a bump on the bridge for a smoother profile. | Dorsal hump |
| Tip refinement (tip plasty) | Reshapes a bulbous, boxy, drooping or over-projected tip. | Tip plasty |
| Reduction rhinoplasty | Makes a large or prominent nose smaller and more proportionate. | Reduction rhinoplasty |
| Augmentation rhinoplasty | Builds up a low or flat bridge with cartilage grafts. | Flat nose |
| Ethnic rhinoplasty | Refines the nose while preserving your natural ethnic character. | Ethnic rhinoplasty |
| Crooked nose / septorhinoplasty | Straightens a bent nose and can correct a deviated septum to help breathing. | Crooked nose |
| Revision rhinoplasty | Corrects or improves the result of a previous nose job. | Revision rhinoplasty |
| Non-surgical rhinoplasty | Uses dermal filler to smooth small irregularities without surgery. | Non-surgical rhinoplasty |
Not sure which type is right for you? Book a consultation with Mr Shoaib and he will recommend the approach that suits your nose.
Cosmetic Vs Functional Rhinoplasty
One way to group the types of rhinoplasty is by what the operation is for. Cosmetic rhinoplasty changes the shape of the nose, for example its size, bridge or tip, so it sits in better balance with your face. Functional rhinoplasty aims to improve breathing. Usually this means straightening a deviated septum, the wall of cartilage and bone that divides the nose, in an operation called a septoplasty, and supporting the airway.
Many people want both. A septorhinoplasty reshapes the nose and aims to improve breathing in one operation, with one recovery, at a set fee of £8,950. Whether your breathing needs attention is checked at your assessment, so the plan covers how your nose works as well as how it looks. Treatment at Berkeley Square Medical is self-pay; we do not accept private medical insurance.
Open Vs Closed Rhinoplasty
Another way to group the types is by technique. Open and closed describe how the surgeon reaches the nasal framework, not what the nose ends up looking like.
- Closed rhinoplasty: all incisions are inside the nostrils, so there is no visible external scar. It suits many primary reshaping cases.
- Open rhinoplasty: adds a tiny incision across the columella (the strip between the nostrils), giving the surgeon direct access and precise control for complex tip work, revisions, and major reshaping. The small scar usually fades to a fine, pale line.
Neither is "better" in the abstract; the choice depends on what your nose needs. Read the full comparison of open vs closed rhinoplasty.
Dorsal Hump Reduction
One of the most requested changes, a dorsal hump reduction lowers a bump of bone and cartilage on the bridge to create a smoother, straighter profile from the side. It is often combined with tip work so the whole profile balances.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on dorsal hump removal →Nasal Tip Refinement (Tip Plasty)
Tip refinement, or tip plasty, reshapes the cartilage of the nasal tip to correct a bulbous, boxy, drooping or over-projected tip, while leaving the bridge alone. It is one of the most delicate parts of rhinoplasty and shows most on the front and base (worm's-eye) views.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on tip plasty →Reduction Rhinoplasty
Reduction rhinoplasty makes a large or prominent nose smaller and more balanced with the rest of the face. It can reduce the bridge, refine the tip, and narrow the nose together, and it is one of the most common reasons people seek a nose job.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on rhinoplasty →Augmentation Rhinoplasty
Augmentation rhinoplasty is the opposite of a reduction. Instead of making the nose smaller, it builds up a low or flat bridge, or a tip that does not project enough, to give the nose more height and definition. Mr Shoaib does this with your own cartilage, taken from the septum inside your nose, your ear or a rib. Taking ear or rib cartilage leaves a small extra scar and some discomfort at that site, which Mr Shoaib explains at your consultation.
Augmentation is often part of ethnic rhinoplasty where the bridge is naturally lower, with the aim of a stronger, more defined bridge that still suits your face and heritage. It can be combined with tip refinement in the same operation. It has a set fee of £8,950, with any ear or rib cartilage grafts included.
Real patient of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on flat nose rhinoplasty →Ethnic Rhinoplasty
Ethnic rhinoplasty refines the nose while preserving the features that reflect your heritage, rather than imposing a single "ideal" shape. It calls for specific experience with different skin thickness and cartilage strength, for example in African, Middle Eastern, and South and East Asian noses.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on ethnic rhinoplasty →Crooked Nose Correction (Septorhinoplasty)
A crooked or bent nose is straightened by realigning the bone and cartilage, and when the septum is deviated the same operation, a septorhinoplasty, can also improve breathing. So this type is often both cosmetic and functional.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on crooked nose correction →Revision Rhinoplasty
Revision, or secondary, rhinoplasty corrects or improves the result of a previous nose job, whether the issue is cosmetic, functional, or both. It is more complex than a first operation, because it works on a healed, altered nose, and it needs a surgeon who performs it regularly.
Real patients of Mr Taimur Shoaib, shown with consent for advertising. Individual results vary and are not guaranteed.
More on revision rhinoplasty →Other Types Of Nose Surgery
Two more types of nose surgery:
- Alar base reduction: narrows wide nostrils or a broad nasal base, often as part of a larger rhinoplasty.
- Broken nose rhinoplasty: straightens and reshapes a nose that has healed out of shape after an injury, with a set fee of £8,950.
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
Non-surgical rhinoplasty uses dermal filler to smooth small bumps or asymmetries without an operation. It is a temporary option with little or no downtime for suitable, minor cases, and it cannot make a nose smaller. Some patients later move from filler to surgical rhinoplasty for a permanent result.
It should only be done by an experienced injector, as filler in the nose carries rare but serious risks. Treatment is £650 per 1ml syringe. Read about non-surgical rhinoplasty.
How Much Do The Different Types Of Nose Surgery Cost?
At Berkeley Square Medical each type has a set, all-inclusive fee, agreed before surgery, rather than a quote. Primary rhinoplasty, including ethnic rhinoplasty, septorhinoplasty and broken nose correction, is £8,950, including any ear or rib cartilage grafts. Tip rhinoplasty is £7,950, or £8,950 if a graft is needed. Revision rhinoplasty is £9,950, including grafts. Non-surgical rhinoplasty is £650 per 1ml syringe and is temporary. We are self-pay only and do not accept private medical insurance. For what each fee includes, see the rhinoplasty cost guide.
