Can You Change the Shape of Your Nose? A Complete Guide to Rhinoplasty and Septorhinoplasty

Medically reviewed by: Dr. Sharun Abey Kurian , consultant plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgeon - Written by Riya Yacob - Updated on 30/9/2026

Yes, you can change the shape of your nose through nose reshaping surgery, medically known as rhinoplasty. This procedure can reduce a hump, narrow a wide bridge, refine a drooping or round tip, and correct a crooked nose. When nasal blockage is also present, a related procedure called septorhinoplasty corrects breathing difficulties alongside the external shape, giving patients both form and function in one surgery.

Key Takeaways

• Nose reshaping surgery (rhinoplasty) can adjust the bone and cartilage of the nose to change its outer appearance.
• Common corrections include reducing a hump, narrowing width, and refining a drooping or crooked tip.
• Septorhinoplasty combines cosmetic reshaping with correction of a deviated septum, which often causes breathing problems.
• Rhinoplasty ranked among the top five surgical cosmetic procedures performed worldwide in 2024, according to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
• Recovery, technique, and results of rhinoplasty depend on individual nasal structure, so a consultation with a qualified plastic surgeon is the right starting point.

Many people notice something about their nose that bothers them, whether it is a bump they see in photographs or a tip that never quite sits the way they would like. Noses can be reshaped, and nose reshaping surgery has become one of the more established procedures in plastic surgery today. 

What Is Rhinoplasty & How Does It Work?

Rhinoplasty is a type of nose surgery performed to alter the shape and appearance of the nose. It is, in the simplest sense, a surgical correction of the nasal structure. The nose is made up of bone, cartilage, and skin, and a surgeon works with these components depending on what needs to change.

If the bridge has a visible bump or the nose appears wider than desired, rhinoplasty can reshape these features to improve facial proportion. And if the tip is drooping, rounded, or sitting off to one side, it can be refined and corrected. Because every nose is shaped differently, rhinoplasty surgery is never a single fixed technique. It is adjusted to the patient’s nasal structure according to the changes being considered.

This is also why the procedure is sometimes called nose surgery or cosmetic nose surgery in everyday conversation, even though rhinoplasty is the clinical term surgeons use.

Common Concerns Rhinoplasty Can Address

• A visible bump or hump along the bridge
• A nose that appears too wide, too narrow, too long or too flat for the face
• A tip that droops, looks bulbous, or points downward
• A crooked, deviated, or asymmetrical nose, whether from birth or due to an old injury
• Nostrils that appear flared or uneven

Can Nose Blockage Be Treated Through the Same Surgery?

Yes, it can, but the procedure has a slightly different name when breathing is involved. That surgery is called septorhinoplasty.

The septum sits at the centre of the nose and provides its internal support. It divides the nasal passage into two sides, left and right. When the septum becomes deviated or crooked, whether from birth, growth, or an injury, it commonly leads to nasal blockage or ongoing difficulty breathing through the nose. Septorhinoplasty addresses this by correcting the deviation, restoring easier airflow, while also correcting or reshaping the external appearance of the nose at the same time. In effect, one surgery deals with both the way the nose looks and the way it functions.

This approach may be suitable for patients who have both long-standing breathing difficulties and concerns about the appearance of their nose.

Rhinoplasty vs Septorhinoplasty

What Happens During Consultation & Recovery

A thorough consultation examines the nose’s bone and cartilage structure and checks breathing function before deciding on the surgical approach. Photographs, sometimes imaging, and a discussion about the changes that are realistically achievable based on your nasal structure.

During the Procedure

The surgical technique may involve an open or closed approach, based on the specific changes required. Open techniques involve a small incision at the base of the nose between the nostrils, giving fuller access for more complex reshaping. Closed techniques keep incisions hidden inside the nostrils, which can mean less visible scarring for simpler corrections.

After Surgery

Patients may experience temporary swelling and light bruising around the eyes during the early recovery period. A splint usually stays on the nose for about a week to protect its new shape while initial healing takes place. Most people return to non-strenuous daily activities within one to two weeks, though the nose continues to settle and refine its final shape gradually over several months.

Who Is a Suitable Candidate?

Rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty are generally suitable for adults whose facial growth has finished, typically from the mid-teens onward depending on individual development, and who are in good general health. People with realistic expectations about what surgery can change, and an understanding that healing takes time, usually have the smoothest experience. A consultation with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon remains the best way to know whether you are a suitable candidate, since nasal anatomy differs so much from person to person.

Conclusion

Nose reshaping is one of the most frequently performed procedures in plastic surgery, helping patients address both appearance and proportion. Whether the goal is reducing a hump, narrowing a wide bridge, correcting a crooked tip, or resolving nasal blockage alongside those cosmetic changes, nose reshaping surgery can address these concerns depending on the patient’s anatomy and treatment goals. Septorhinoplasty extends that further for patients whose concerns include both appearance and breathing.

If you have been considering cosmetic nose surgery or want to understand whether septorhinoplasty is right for you, the team at EMC Hospital is here to talk through your options. Book a consultation with our plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery department to discuss what changes are realistic for your nose and how we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the difference between rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty? 
A1: Rhinoplasty changes the external shape of the nose by working on its bone and cartilage, while septorhinoplasty does the same thing but also corrects a deviated or crooked septum, which is the internal structure that often causes nasal blockage or breathing difficulty.

Q2: How long does it take to see the final results of nose reshaping surgery? 
A2: Initial swelling settles within a few weeks, and most of the visible shape becomes clear around three to six months after surgery, though very fine changes in the tip can continue to refine for up to a year in some patients.

Q3: Can rhinoplasty fix breathing problems on its own? 
A3: Standard rhinoplasty focuses mainly on appearance. If breathing difficulty is due to a narrow internal nasal valve, it may be corrected during a routine rhinoplasty. If breathing difficulty comes from a deviated septum, septorhinoplasty is the procedure that addresses both the internal blockage and the external shape together.

Q4: Is nose reshaping surgery painful? 
A4: Most patients describe more pressure and stuffiness than sharp pain, and this is usually managed well with prescribed medication during the first few days of recovery.

Q5: At what age can someone have rhinoplasty? 
A5: Surgeons generally wait until facial growth is complete, which is often from the mid-teens onward for females and slightly later for males, though this always depends on individual development and is confirmed during consultation.

2026-09-30 Riya Yacob