Rhinoplasty in Edinburgh

Mr Awf Quaba has performed over 1,000 rhinoplasty procedures and continues to operate on around 100 patients each year. Rhinoplasty at Quaba Plastic Surgery is performed at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh under general anaesthesia, by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register. Few practices in Scotland hold case volume of this depth in a single procedure. The aim is a nose that sits in proportion with the rest of the face and looks unaltered.

Anaesthetic
General anaesthesia
Length
2 to 3 hours
Hospital stay
Day case at Waterfront Private Hospital
Recovery time
1 to 2 weeks off work; six weeks before strenuous exercise
Guide price
from £9,200
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A woman's nose and face in profile
  • Consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register
  • Surgery at Waterfront Private Hospital, regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland
  • Your consultation and your operation with the same consultant

Contents

Results from our patients

Before and after: Open rhinoplasty and chin implantOpen rhinoplasty and chin implantBefore and after: Open rhinoplasty – profile refinementOpen rhinoplasty – profile refinementBefore and after: Rhinoplasty with dorsal hump correctionRhinoplasty with dorsal hump correction

See all 37 rhinoplasty results

Real patients, shared with their consent and not retouched. Results vary from person to person.

What patients say

★★★★★

I had surgery in December 2019 – it was a great success. My nose, now 5 years later, is as strikingly perfect today as it was after the operation – I smile everyday ! I only wish I hadn't waited until my late 50s.

Sara · May 2025 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

I had my six-month review with my surgeon and once again had a fantastic experience. Communication has been excellent throughout, and I have always felt listened to, reassured and very well cared for.

I am absolutely delighted with my results and very grateful for the professionalism, kindness and aftercare I have received. I would happily recommend the clinic.

Ceilidh · October 2026 · Read on Trustpilot
★★★★★

Thank you team waterfront.
From consultation with Omar , pre op phone calls to surgery day with Omar every stage and every person made me feel at ease and important. Staff extremely professional.
I’m very happy with my results, just had my 6 check.
Thank you to Omar and team Waterfront.

Mb · September 2026 · Read on Trustpilot

Quoted word for word from Trustpilot. Read all our reviews

Is it right for me?

A good candidate for rhinoplasty has a specific concern about the appearance of the nose, is in good physical and mental health, and is at least 18 years old with facial growth complete.

  • A clear concern – a hump, a wide or drooping tip, a crooked nose – that matches what examination finds
  • Good general health, with no conditions that impair healing
  • At least 18 years old; there is no upper age limit, although swelling settles more slowly in older age groups
  • Realistic expectations of what surgery can and cannot change

Patients whose distress is out of proportion to the examination findings may not be offered surgery; features of body dysmorphic disorder are screened for, and the section further down this page explains this in more detail. Where the concern is small, non-surgical rhinoplasty with dermal fillers may be a more proportionate first step.

Unsure? Try the free AI consultation, or ask at your appointment.

What rhinoplasty involves

Rhinoplasty reshapes the bone and cartilage of the nose to change its size, profile or tip. The most common requests are reduction of a hump on the bridge, refinement of the tip and narrowing of the nose; less commonly, the operation augments a small nose.

The nose is one of the most defining features of the face and has a disproportionate influence on how appearance is perceived. Where a patient finds it difficult to express what they would like changed, photographs taken at consultation are used to discuss what is and is not correctable.

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia as a day case at Waterfront Private Hospital in Edinburgh and takes two to three hours. Mr Awf Quaba has performed over 1,000 rhinoplasty procedures over more than 30 years in Edinburgh, uses both open and closed approaches, and takes revision cases where a previous operation has not produced the result the patient was looking for.

Open and closed rhinoplasty

Closed rhinoplasty

The closed approach places all incisions within the nostrils, leaving no visible scarring. It is suited to nasal hump reduction, nose narrowing, and refinement of the nasal tip, where the required work is more limited.

Open rhinoplasty

The open approach uses a small additional incision across the columella — the strip of skin between the nostrils — giving the surgeon full visibility of the underlying bone and cartilage. It is preferred when more intricate work is needed on the tip of the nose. The columellar scar typically settles to a fine line that is difficult to see at conversational distance.

Chin and nose together — chin enhancement

Nose reshaping is often combined with chin enhancement. A weak chin can exaggerate the appearance of a prominent nose, particularly on the side profile, so a rhinoplasty alone in this setting may not achieve the balance the patient is seeking. This is assessed at consultation.

Septorhinoplasty — correcting a deviated septum

Rhinoplasty can be combined with a procedure to correct a deviated nasal septum where breathing is affected. This combined operation, called septorhinoplasty, is performed in one sitting. Rhinoplasty for purely functional reasons, without any aesthetic concern, is not performed at Quaba.

Non-surgical rhinoplasty

Some patients wishing to avoid surgery may be candidates for non-surgical rhinoplasty using dermal fillers. Fillers can soften small bumps, build up flat areas, increase tip projection, or straighten a nose. Results are not permanent, but the technique can show what surgery could achieve, or be repeated to avoid surgery altogether.

What rhinoplasty can and can't do

Rhinoplasty can change the shape of your nose and, where needed, how well you breathe through it. It takes longer to settle than most operations and it has limits, and we would rather you knew them before you decide.

It can

  • Change the size and shape of your nose, such as a hump, the tip or the width, in balance with the rest of your face.
  • Improve a nose that is crooked or uneven.
  • Improve breathing where a structural problem, such as a deviated septum, narrows the airway.
  • Refine the tip, which is usually the slowest part to settle.

It can’t

  • Give you an exact copy of a nose you have seen. Your bone, cartilage and skin set limits, and thick skin in particular limits how fine the tip can look.
  • Show the final result quickly. Most swelling settles in two to three weeks, but the tip can take up to a year to refine.
  • Make your face symmetrical. Most faces have some natural asymmetry, and it can become more noticeable as the nose changes.
  • Be fully reversed. Revision surgery can make adjustments, but it is more complex than the first operation. Treatment of a complication in the first year is free of charge; a cosmetic revision is a different matter and is quoted separately.
  • Fix a worry that is not really about the nose. If concern about your appearance is taking over daily life, we may suggest talking to a mental health professional first.

Your consultant will tell you at your consultation which of these apply to you.

Body image and how you’re feeling

Rhinoplasty is a decision about how you feel as much as how you look. If worries about your appearance have been affecting your daily life or mood, it can help to reflect on that before your consultation. The BDD Foundation, a UK charity, hosts a short, confidential self-assessment you can take in a few minutes.

Take the BDD self-assessment

View before and after gallery

What is the cost of rhinoplasty?

  • Open rhinoplasty: £9,200
  • Septo-rhinoplasty: £10,300
  • Non-surgical rhinoplasty: from £600

The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Revision rhinoplasty is quoted separately, as the operation is more complex than a primary procedure. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200; where a further consultation would help you reach a decision, this is offered without additional charge.

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Questions before you book?

Ask anything about rhinoplasty, its recovery, risks or cost, any time and in plain language. If you would like, our team can contact you afterwards.

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General information, not a substitute for a consultation.

Patients often ask

Quick answers

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my rhinoplasty?

Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital, and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between consultants.

Who will perform my rhinoplasty?

Your rhinoplasty is planned and performed by one of our consultant plastic surgeons, Mr Awf Quaba and Mr John Biddlestone, both on the GMC Specialist Register. You choose your consultant, meet them at your first appointment, and the same consultant operates and sees you afterwards.

Can I see results from your surgeons?

Yes. Our rhinoplasty before and after gallery shows patients treated at Quaba Plastic Surgery, shared with their consent. Results vary between people, and your consultant will show you what is realistic for you at your consultation.

What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?

Your Quaba consultant stays responsible for your care after surgery. A nurse sees you a week after your operation, more often if you need it, and your consultant reviews you at around six months, when the result has settled. If anything worries you before then, contact us and your consultant will reply directly and see you as soon as needed.

How much does rhinoplasty cost?

Rhinoplasty at Quaba starts from £9,200. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until discharge. The full price for your individual case is confirmed after a face-to-face consultation.

All our guide prices are on our pricing page.

What is a rhinoplasty, and is it the same as a nose job?

Rhinoplasty is the medical name for the procedure most people refer to as a nose job. The two terms describe the same operation. It is a surgical procedure to reshape the nose, addressing concerns such as reducing the bridge, narrowing the nose, refining the tip, shortening the nose, or lifting a droopy tip.

Am I a good candidate for rhinoplasty?

If you have specific concerns about the appearance of your nose, are in good general health, and are willing to undergo surgery, it is worth booking a consultation to discuss what can be achieved. At consultation we examine your nose, discuss your concerns, and let you know what is and is not realistic for your anatomy.

What is the right age for rhinoplasty?

We prefer patients to be at least 18 years old, with facial skeletal growth complete. Emotional and social maturity matters just as much as physical readiness. There is no upper age limit; rhinoplasty in the 40s and 50s is common, provided general physical and mental health allow it. Recovery and residual swelling may take longer in older age groups.

Can rhinoplasty correct breathing problems?

Where breathing difficulty is caused by a structural issue inside the nose, most commonly a deviated septum, this can be addressed at the same operation as an aesthetic change. The combined procedure is called septorhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty for purely functional reasons, without any aesthetic concern, is not performed at Quaba.

Can I have rhinoplasty if I have already had a previous nose operation?

Yes. Mr Awf Quaba takes revision rhinoplasty cases where a previous operation has not produced the result the patient was looking for. Revision cases are more complex than primary rhinoplasty and are assessed individually at consultation. Cost is quoted separately.

Is rhinoplasty painful?

Most patients describe rhinoplasty as uncomfortable rather than painful. Our anaesthetists typically use total intravenous anaesthesia, which usually means little postoperative nausea, and oral pain relief is sufficient for most patients.

Do you use nasal packing?

Yes, but soft packing is used and it is removed the morning after surgery. Removal causes little discomfort at this stage.

Will there be a visible scar?

An open rhinoplasty leaves a small scar across the columella, on the undersurface of the nose. It typically settles to a fine line that is difficult to see at conversational distance, though scars can take up to 18 months to fully settle. A closed rhinoplasty places all incisions inside the nostrils, so there is no external scar at all.

How long until I see the final result?

The major changes are apparent immediately once the splint is removed at one week, and the nose looks substantially settled by around six months. The most subtle changes, particularly fine swelling at the tip, can take up to 18 months to fully settle, especially in patients with thicker skin.

How long does recovery take?

Most patients take 7 to 14 days off work, depending on the extent of the surgery. Tip work alone often needs only a few days; surgery involving the nasal bones typically needs two weeks. Most patients feel presentable in public once the splint is removed at one week. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for six weeks.

I live in Glasgow. Can I have my surgery with you?

Yes. Many of our patients travel from Glasgow, Aberdeen and elsewhere in Scotland. Your consultation, surgery and reviews are in Edinburgh, about an hour away from Glasgow by train or car, and your surgery takes place at Waterfront Private Hospital.

The surgeons who do this

You meet your consultant at your first appointment. The same consultant plans your surgery, carries it out and sees you afterwards.

Risks, and how often they happen

Every operation carries risk. Here they are in three groups. The figures come from UK national guidance and published studies, averaged across many patients, so your own risk may be higher or lower. Your consultant will go through what applies to you, and every risk is in your written consent.

  • Expected
  • Uncommon
  • Rare
  • For the long term

Expected Almost everyone, and they settle

  • Swelling and bruising around the nose and eyes, with the bruising mostly gone in one to two weeks.
  • A blocked nose for the first week or two while the inside heals.
  • Numbness of the nasal tip, usually settling over a few months.
  • Subtle swelling, especially at the tip, that can take up to a year to settle fully.
  • A small scar across the skin between the nostrils (the columella) after an open rhinoplasty, usually settling to a fine line. A closed rhinoplasty leaves no outside scar.

Uncommon Some patients, and some need further treatment

  • A revision operation. Some people choose a second, usually smaller, operation to refine the result.

    About 1 in 10

  • Breathing problems that need further surgery. Breathing usually improves or stays the same, but it can be worse once healing has finished.

    Under 1 in 30

  • A hole in the septum (septal perforation), the wall between the nostrils. It can cause crusting, nosebleeds or a whistling sound.

    Under 1 in 30where the septum is operated on

  • Blood collecting inside the septum and becoming infected (septal haematoma or abscess).

    Under 1 in 50

  • A reduced sense of smell, which usually recovers with time.

    Under 1 in 100

Rare but serious

  • Bleeding or infection that needs a hospital visit or a return to theatre in the first month.

    Under 1 in 100

  • Deep infection that damages the cartilage, which can very rarely lead to collapse of the bridge and a further operation.
  • A blood clot in the leg or lung (DVT or PE). We assess your risk and take steps to prevent it.

    Under 1 in 1,000

  • A serious reaction to the anaesthetic.

    Very rare

For the long term

  • The tip keeps refining for up to a year. Your formal final review is at six months.
  • A revision, if you need one, is a bigger operation. It is more complex than the first. Treatment of a complication in the first year is free of charge; a cosmetic revision is quoted separately.
  • Your nose still ages. Skin and cartilage change over the years, as with the rest of the face.

More from BAAPS on rhinoplasty and the NHS on nose reshaping.

Where these figures come from

Aftercare and recovery after rhinoplasty

You will be up and about the day after your surgery, though it takes a couple of weeks before you are entirely up to speed. Most patients describe rhinoplasty recovery as uncomfortable rather than painful; soft nasal packing is removed the morning after surgery, and oral pain relief is sufficient for most patients.

An external splint is worn over the nose for the first week to support the new shape as the underlying structures begin to heal. Bruising around the eyes and across the cheeks is common in the first week and settles over two to three weeks. Most patients feel comfortable in public, with light makeup, from around two weeks.

Light walking can be resumed within a few days. Strenuous exercise, contact sports, and any activity that risks a direct blow to the nose should be avoided for 6 weeks. Glasses cannot rest on the bridge of the nose for several weeks after the splint is removed; contact lenses or a temporary glasses bridge support are alternatives in the interim.

A nurse reviews you at one week and more often if needed during the early healing period. Your consultant will see you again around six months after the result has settled. In the meantime, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

If you have had surgery with us or are considering it, more detailed advice is available on the rhinoplasty aftercare page.

EXPLORE RHINOPLASTY AFTERCARE
A nurse with a tablet talking to a patient at Waterfront Private Hospital

Written by

Mr Awf Quaba

Consultant plastic surgeon · GMC 3034912

Last updated June 2026