By Dr Scott J Turner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) | Bondi Junction, Sydney
Most people who walk into a rhinoplasty consultation have been thinking about it for a long time. Months. Sometimes years. And yet when they sit down, they’ll often say something like, “I’m not even sure where to start.” That’s actually a perfectly reasonable place to begin.
Rhinoplasty — nose surgery, in practical terms — isn’t a single procedure. It’s a broad surgical category covering everything from reshaping a dorsal hump to rebuilding internal structures so you can breathe properly through both nostrils. Some patients need both. Some only need one. The point is, no two rhinoplasty operations are quite the same. At FacePlus Aesthetics in Bondi Junction, Dr Scott J Turner sees rhinoplasty patients from across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and greater NSW, and the range of concerns people present with is genuinely wide.
This article covers what rhinoplasty involves in practice, who it’s suited to, and what to expect when you come in for a consultation.
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What Is Rhinoplasty, in Practical Terms?
Rhinoplasty is surgery on the bone, cartilage, and soft tissue of your nose. Straightforward enough in theory. In practice, it’s one of the more technically demanding procedures in facial plastic surgery — partly because the anatomy is compact and layered, partly because even millimetre-level changes are visible on your face.
There are three broad reasons people have it done. They overlap more often than not.
Cosmetic concerns. A dorsal hump that catches your eye every time you see your profile. A tip that’s too round, too droopy, or sits slightly off to one side. Nostrils that flare wider than you’d like. A nose that simply feels too large — or occasionally too small — for the rest of your face. These are the kinds of things patients describe in consultations, and cosmetic rhinoplasty addresses them by reshaping the nose to sit in better proportion with your other features.
Breathing problems. This is the functional side. A deviated septum — the cartilage wall between your nasal passages — is the most common cause, but it’s not the only one. Enlarged turbinates, weakened internal valves, and other structural variations can all restrict airflow. Functional rhinoplasty deals with these issues specifically. Medicare rebates sometimes apply here, provided certain clinical criteria are satisfied.
Injury-related damage. Broken noses don’t always set straight. The bump, the twist, the one side that never quite looks like the other — these are common after a sporting collision or accident. Post-trauma cases often need both the cosmetic and functional aspects addressed in the same sitting.
It’s worth noting that plenty of patients fall into more than one category. Coming in because you can’t breathe doesn’t mean you can’t also address the shape. Doing both at once is routine and generally makes more sense than two separate operations.
Who Considers Rhinoplasty — and Why?
There’s no “typical” rhinoplasty patient. But recognisable patterns do emerge in clinical practice.
Long-Standing Aesthetic Concerns
This is perhaps the most common presentation. A familial trait — a prominent bridge, a wide nasal base, or an asymmetric tip — that’s been a source of self-consciousness since adolescence. Others don’t think much about their nose until later, when ageing shifts facial proportions or a previous sports injury becomes harder to overlook.
Chronic Nasal Obstruction
A surprising number of patients don’t realise their breathing difficulty has a structural cause. They’ve relied on nasal sprays for years, they sleep with their mouth open, they struggle through exercise. Then they’re properly assessed and discover a deviated septum or collapsed internal valve that was never identified.
Ethnic and Cultural Considerations
Sydney’s population is genuinely multicultural, and that’s reflected in rhinoplasty consultations. Different ethnic backgrounds present with different nasal anatomy — thicker or thinner skin, varying cartilage strength, specific healing characteristics. A responsible surgeon works with those differences rather than applying a single aesthetic template. Ethnic rhinoplasty at FacePlus recognises that your identity isn’t something to be erased. It’s something to be respected and considered carefully within the surgical plan.
Adolescent Patients
The nose has to finish growing first. That’s usually around 16 for girls, 17–18 for boys. Teen rhinoplasty also demands particularly candid conversations about expectations, because what a younger patient sees on social media and what’s surgically achievable are often quite different.
The Different Types of Nose Surgery
The terminology can become confusing, so a brief overview helps.
Full rhinoplasty covers everything — bridge, tip, nostrils, septum if needed. It’s the most thorough option. Tip rhinoplasty only addresses the lower third of the nose. Less extensive, certainly, but the cartilage sculpting involved still requires considerable precision.
Septoplasty straightens a deviated septum. It’s often combined with cosmetic rhinoplasty when both breathing and appearance are concerns, though it works well as a standalone procedure. Ultrasonic rhinoplasty uses piezoelectric instruments that vibrate at ultrasonic frequency to cut bone while preserving the surrounding soft tissue. Useful when bony precision matters, but not every case calls for it.
Revision rhinoplasty addresses concerns remaining after a previous surgery. Scar tissue, weakened frameworks, distorted anatomy — revision work is more demanding across the board, and surgeon selection matters even more than it does for a primary procedure.
Your Consultation at FacePlus in Bondi Junction
Rhinoplasty consultations aren’t brief appointments. They take time, and that’s by design.
Dr Turner begins by listening. What concerns you? When did you first notice it? Is it the way your nose looks, the way it functions, or both? Some patients arrive with a clear idea of what they’d like changed. Others have a less defined sense that something isn’t quite right. Both starting points are entirely valid.
The physical assessment follows. External and internal examination. Skin thickness, cartilage framework strength, whether the septum sits midline, how the nasal proportions relate to the chin, cheeks, and forehead. Photographs are taken. Digital imaging may be used to illustrate potential changes — though Dr Turner is clear that imaging demonstrates possibilities, not guarantees.
Medical history is also reviewed. Prior nasal surgery, injuries, medications, smoking. That last point isn’t negotiable: you’ll need to stop completely for at least six weeks either side of surgery, because nicotine genuinely compromises tissue healing.
You won’t have surgery after a single visit. Every patient receives a minimum of two consultations, with a mandatory cooling-off period between them. Under current Australian cosmetic surgery regulations, a structured pre-operative assessment also confirms that you’re emotionally prepared and your expectations are realistic. These safeguards exist for good reason — they’re there to protect you.
Understanding the Risks
All surgery carries risk. Rhinoplasty is no exception.
Bleeding, infection, reaction to anaesthesia — these are the standard surgical risks. Specific to rhinoplasty, there’s also the possibility of persistent swelling, temporary or prolonged numbness, asymmetry, visible scarring, or a result you’re not satisfied with. A small percentage of patients require revision surgery.
Having the procedure performed by a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) in an accredited hospital reduces — but doesn’t eliminate — those risks. Dr Turner discusses all of this during the consultation, because informed decision-making requires a clear understanding of what can go wrong alongside what’s likely to go well. More detail is available on our risks and complications page.
What Recovery Involves
Week one: Splint on your nose, possibly internal splints too. Bruising around the eyes if bony work was involved. Discomfort that most patients describe as congestion and pressure rather than acute pain. You’ll need to sleep with your head elevated and avoid blowing your nose during this period.
Week two: Splint off. Bruising largely faded. Most patients feel comfortable returning to work and light daily activities, though you won’t look “finished” yet — that’s entirely normal at this stage.
Six weeks onward: No contact sport, no vigorous exercise, nothing that risks impact to the nose. After this window, restrictions gradually ease.
Twelve to eighteen months: This is genuinely how long the final shape takes to settle. The tip refines last because it carries the most residual swelling. Patients with thicker skin wait longer. Judging your result at the three-month mark is premature — the nose is still evolving.
Regular follow-up appointments with Dr Turner are built into the process. They’re an essential part of your care, not an optional extra.
Why FRACS Credentials Matter for Rhinoplasty in Sydney
In Australia, “Specialist Plastic Surgeon” is a legally protected title regulated by AHPRA. It indicates Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS) in Plastic Surgery — a minimum of 12 years’ medical and surgical education, with at least five of those years in supervised specialist training.
“Cosmetic surgeon” isn’t a recognised specialty. The training behind that title varies considerably. For a procedure as technically demanding as rhinoplasty, verifying your surgeon’s FRACS credentials through the AHPRA register is a sensible first step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Considering Rhinoplasty in Bondi Junction?
If you’re considering rhinoplasty in Sydney, the first step is a thorough consultation — a proper assessment of your anatomy, your goals, and whether surgery is the appropriate path forward. Every nose is different, and the surgical plan has to reflect that.
Consultations take place at FacePlus Aesthetics in Bondi Junction. Contact us to arrange an appointment, or explore nose surgery options on our website.
