Rhinoplasty in Sharjah

What is rhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty is surgery on the framework of the nose: the pair of small bones at the bridge, the flexible cartilages that shape the lower half and the tip, and the soft tissue and skin draped over them. By reshaping, trimming, repositioning or adding to this framework, the surgeon can straighten a crooked nose, reduce a hump, refine the tip, or widen a passage that collapses when you breathe in.

The outside of the nose and the airway inside it are one structure, so a change to one affects the other. That is the reason for having nose surgery led by an ENT surgeon: the shape and the breathing are planned together. When the septum, the central wall dividing the two nostrils, is straightened in the same operation, the procedure is called septorhinoplasty; the septum on its own is covered on the septoplasty page.

At Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, rhinoplasty is carried out by the hospital's ENT surgeon, often as a day case.

Who needs it

Rhinoplasty suits adults, and older teenagers whose nose has finished growing, in three broad groups. Some have a nose that blocks breathing because of its structure, such as a twisted bridge or weak side walls that fold inwards on a deep breath. Some have a nose that was bent or flattened by an injury, from sport, a fall or a road accident. Others are healthy and wish to change the appearance of the nose. Many people fall into more than one group.

Alternatives depend on the problem. A blockage caused by swelling of the lining, allergy or polyps is treated with sprays, rinses or sinus surgery, and a bent septum alone is corrected with septoplasty. A freshly broken nose can sometimes be set back into position without incisions early after the injury, once the surgeon has assessed it. Wider nose and sinus conditions are described on the Otolaryngology (E.N.T) page.

The decision is made at a consultation that is longer and more detailed than a usual clinic visit. The surgeon asks what bothers you and why, examines the outside of the nose and looks inside with a small camera, checks how the airway behaves as you breathe in, and takes standardised photographs from several angles. Together you agree which changes are realistic for your skin, bone structure and face. Thick skin, for example, softens fine detail, which shapes what can be achieved at the tip. Bring pictures that show what you would like, and be open about what you hope the change will bring.

What happens

Rhinoplasty is usually performed under general anaesthetic; the anaesthetist agrees the plan with you beforehand, see Anaesthesiology. The surgeon works either through incisions hidden inside the nostrils, known as closed rhinoplasty, or adds a small incision across the strip of skin between the nostrils, known as open rhinoplasty, which gives a direct view of the tip.

The bones and cartilages are then reshaped to the agreed plan. Where extra support is needed, a small piece of cartilage, most often taken from the septum, is used as a graft to strengthen the side walls or the tip. At the end, a firm splint is taped over the bridge to hold the new shape, and soft splints or light dressings may sit inside the nose.

Preparing for it

A pre-operative assessment confirms you are fit for the anaesthetic. List every medicine and supplement you take, including blood thinners, pain relievers and herbal products, because several of them increase bleeding and need a plan.

Stopping smoking well before surgery helps the skin and lining heal. Plan the date around work, social events, travel and Ramadan, since the splint and early bruising are visible. Arrange for an adult to take you home and stay with you the first night, and prepare extra pillows so you can sleep with your head raised.

Afterwards

Expect a blocked nose, some blood-stained ooze and bruising around the eyes at first. The splint stays on until the clinic removes it at your follow-up visit. Swelling settles gradually and unevenly: the bridge looks finished well before the tip, which is the last part to settle, so the final result becomes clear over many months. Your surgeon gives you a timeline for your case.

Keep glasses off the bridge while the bones heal; tape them to your forehead or use contact lenses. Protect the nose from strong sun, because healing skin burns easily and can darken, so a hat and sunscreen on the nose are part of recovery in the UAE. Sleep with your head raised, sneeze with your mouth open, and ask before swimming, sport or flying.

Contact the hospital if you develop a fever, increasing pain or redness, or a foul-smelling discharge. Go to the emergency department straight away for heavy bleeding from the nose that keeps flowing, or for swelling around the eye or any change in your vision.

Cost and insurance

UAE insurance plans usually exclude rhinoplasty done for appearance alone, while surgery to correct breathing, such as a septoplasty or a repair after injury, is often covered with pre-approval. When a septorhinoplasty combines both, the breathing part may be approved and the cosmetic part charged separately. Insurers ask for documented symptoms and examination findings, and a police or medical report helps after an injury. Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah can explain the options and help you confirm your cover on 06 599 7777.