What is septorhinoplasty?
Septorhinoplasty is functional nose surgery that combines septoplasty (straightening the septum) with reshaping of the nasal framework. It corrects breathing problems caused by a deviated septum or injury, while restoring a straight, stable structure, in one operation.
Will fixing my breathing change the shape of my nose?
It can, usually in a positive way. Straightening the septum to open the airway often also straightens a crooked or twisted profile. Any further reshaping you would like is agreed with Mr Shoaib at your consultation, so the aesthetic outcome stays your choice.
Is septorhinoplasty functional or cosmetic?
It is primarily functional. The priority is your airway and the structure of your nose, particularly after injury. Because the same framework controls both breathing and shape, appearance is corrected at the same time, but the procedure is chosen for function, not as a cosmetic nose job.
I cannot breathe properly after a sports injury or a broken nose. Can this help?
In most cases, yes. A blow to the nose in boxing, MMA, rugby or an accident commonly deviates the septum and fractures the bones, leaving long-term blockage. The degree of improvement depends on the cause and is assessed at your consultation. Septorhinoplasty realigns the septum, rebuilds collapsed cartilage and reopens the airway, and straightens a nose that has healed crooked.
How long after surgery can I return to contact sport?
Light activity is usually resumed within 7 to 10 days. Contact and combat sports, where the nose could be struck, are avoided for 8 weeks to protect the repair while the bone and cartilage heal.
What is a deviated septum?
The septum is the wall of bone and cartilage that divides the two nostrils. When it is bent or off-centre, congenitally or from trauma, it narrows one or both airways and causes blockage, snoring and breathlessness. It is the most common functional reason for septorhinoplasty.
What is the difference between septoplasty, rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty?
Septoplasty straightens the septum only (function). Rhinoplasty reshapes the external nose (usually cosmetic). Septorhinoplasty does both: it corrects the septum and the airway AND rebuilds the framework, which is why it suits deviated, injured or previously-operated noses.
Who performs septorhinoplasty at Berkeley Square Medical?
All surgery is performed by Mr Taimur Shoaib, FRCS (Plast), a consultant plastic surgeon at 64 Harley Street, London, with extensive experience across the full range of septal deviation, including complex post-traumatic and revision cases.
Can I have septorhinoplasty on the NHS?
A septoplasty, which purely straightens the septum to improve breathing, can sometimes be funded by the NHS for a significant breathing problem. A septorhinoplasty also reshapes the nose, so because it includes an aesthetic element it is not funded by the NHS. In practice the NHS may offer the septoplasty part only, which can mean considering a rhinoplasty privately as a separate operation to address the shape. NHS waiting times for nasal surgery can also be long. A private septorhinoplasty lets you treat the breathing and the shape together, with your chosen surgeon and your own timing.
How much does septorhinoplasty cost in London?
Septorhinoplasty with Mr Taimur Shoaib at 64 Harley Street is a fixed, all-inclusive fee of £8,950. It covers your surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees, pre-operative tests, any cartilage grafts (including ear or rib grafts), take-home medication and garments, and your post-operative reviews up to 12 months. Your £100 consultation fee is credited against the cost of surgery. Finance is available, subject to status.
Can I use private medical insurance for septorhinoplasty?
No. Berkeley Square Medical does not accept private medical insurance for septorhinoplasty, and we do not process insurance claims for it. Septorhinoplasty here is self-pay, at a fixed, all-inclusive fee of £8,950. Finance options are available, subject to status.
Can the NHS fix my septum and I pay privately for the shape?
No, not within the same operation. NHS and private care must be kept separate, so the breathing and shape work cannot be split between them in one operation. If you want the shape changed as well, septorhinoplasty is normally done privately as one procedure. Our guide explains
when the NHS may fund nose surgery.
Will I have a visible scar?
Most often Mr Shoaib uses a closed technique, with the incisions hidden inside the nose, so there is no visible external scar. Mr Shoaib's approach to controlling the nasal tip through a closed technique is documented in his peer-reviewed research (European Journal of Plastic Surgery, 2026). If an open approach is needed for a complex repair, the only mark is a fine line across the base of the nose that, in most patients, fades to an inconspicuous line.
How long does the operation take?
Usually 1 to 3 hours under general anaesthetic, depending on how much work the septum and framework need. It is normally a day case or a single overnight stay.
Is septorhinoplasty a major operation?
No. Septorhinoplasty is not considered a major operation, but it is still surgery under general anaesthetic. It usually takes 1 to 3 hours and is normally a day case or a single overnight stay. The splint is removed at day 7, most people take about a week off work, and contact sport is avoided for 8 weeks. Like any surgery it carries risks, which Mr Shoaib explains at your consultation.
Is septorhinoplasty more painful than rhinoplasty?
No. Most patients find septorhinoplasty is not painful, and any discomfort is usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief. The nose usually feels blocked for 1 to 2 weeks from internal swelling. Mr Shoaib does not use internal splints, and any packing is removed about 2 hours after surgery, before you leave hospital. Everyone's experience differs.
Is 30 too late for septorhinoplasty?
No. For adults whose nose has finished growing, there is no fixed upper age for septorhinoplasty. Suitability depends mainly on your general health, your skin and the structure of your nose, and Mr Shoaib assesses this at your consultation.
How long is recovery, and when can I go back to work?
Most people take about a week off while the splint is on. Bruising and swelling settle over 2 to 3 weeks. Breathing can feel blocked at first from internal swelling, then steadily improves over the following weeks.
How long does septorhinoplasty take to fully heal?
Healing follows the same timeline as a rhinoplasty. The nose looks much better within a few weeks, and full internal recovery takes up to 12 months as the last subtle swelling settles.
What are the risks of septorhinoplasty?
As with any surgery there are risks. These include bleeding, infection, temporary numbness, a small hole in the septum (septal perforation), changes to your sense of smell, a reaction to the general anaesthetic, and the chance that breathing does not improve as much as hoped or, in a small number of cases, feels worse. The septum can occasionally shift again and a further or revision procedure is sometimes needed. These are explained fully at consultation as part of informed consent. Individual results vary.
