Sinclair Gore Answers Frequently Asked Questions about Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Sinclair Gore's approach to plastic surgery is very personal and the best way to arrange a consultation is to contact the practice by phoning Fiona on 07833 221725 or email Fiona to request a consultation. We will be happy to organise an appointment for you in a timeframe that suits your needs.

Prior to a consultation you will be asked to complete Mr. Gore's registration questionnaire including details of any previous medical history. This enables him to focus exclusively on your concerns at the time of your consultation. In any consultation you will have lots of time to discuss how you feel about the condition you have or how you feel about your body. Following an examination (often with a chaperone colleague) it will be possible to describe in detail the various options available to you. Different surgeries demand different levels of planning, sometimes with the use of morphing digital imagery to help work towards a joint plan. Implants can be reviewed and trialled with a view to selection. Consultations aim to inform you about the choices you can make; no final decision is needed at that time. If desired Mr. Gore would be happy to see you on a second occasion to answer any further questions you may have and discuss the finer points of planning and organisation. Mr. Gore typically writes comprehensive letters after every consultation giving you a chance to review your thoughts afterwards so that you can move things forward at a pace that suits you.

At the point of deciding you wish to undergo surgery, is best to contact the practice to agree surgical dates as soon as you can. Trying to be flexible with a range of dates is useful due to the current constraints of offering this availability and waiting lists. A surgical date may be available to confirm immediately or may need some discussion depending on the dates and operating lists chosen. We aim to be clear with patients in terms of options available and aim to minimise changes to our schedule as much as is possible. We will be happy to discuss the various surgical, hospital and anaesthetic fees that apply depending on what is being undertaken and where it will take place. Surgical garments or bras may need to be organised prior to the day of surgery and Mr. Gore will be happy to advise you specifically on this if required.

If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill Mr. Gore will happily discuss with you whether this should be altered or not. Taking the progesterone only pill (mini-pill) generally does not need to be stopped. It is reasonable to consider stopping an oestrogen-containing contraceptive pill a month prior to surgery to minimise the theoretical risk of blood clots after an operation performed under general anaesthesia. These rules are not absolute and Mr. Gore will happily discuss the details of this with you.

In the era of COVID-19 it is very reasonable to undergo aesthetic surgery assuming you are well and show no signs of illness. Strict social distancing should be maintained in the weeks running up to any operation date, with a COVID swab being undertaken a few days before surgery. Mr. Gore would be happy to coordinate this with you. Self-isolation should occur from the date of the swab. It is a time when many people have reduced social and work commitments and so it is in many ways a good time to consider such surgery.

It is possible to have many aesthetic operations under sedation (often known as twilight sedation) using advanced anaesthesia techniques which Mr. Gore and his anaesthetic colleagues specialise in. The advantages of this include the administration of less sedating drugs, facilitating a quicker recovery, less nausea and a higher chance of surgery being undertaken on a day case basis if desired.

Surgical, hospital and anaesthetic fees should be paid by bank transfer or credit card in advance of surgery.

Most routine aesthetic operations can be undertaken on a day case basis if this is your preference. Occasionally Mr. Gore uses drains but this does not mean you must stay in hospital. Mr. Gore follows up his patients very closely after surgery and a first clinical review usually takes place within a few days of surgery to ensure that your recovery is as smooth as possible.

On the day of surgery you should aim to attend the hospital by the pre-arranged time. Nursing and anaesthetic assessment will take place and Mr. Gore will run through the final hospital consent form with you. If you are a female of childbearing age (under 55 years old) you will be expected to be able to undergo a pregnancy test by means of a urine sample. Depending on your surgery, rings, earrings and piercings may or may not need to be removed.

After your surgery you will initially be cared for in the hospital theatre recovery suite and later transferred back to your post-operative room. Mr. Gore will have applied your various dressings and garments at the end of your operation and these usually do not need significant adjustment before you are discharged home. Sometimes drains are required and Mr. Gore will talk you through the specifics of those if needed before you are discharged.

Whether surgery is performed on a daycase basis or an overnight stay is planned, you will be discharged with adequate pain control medications and any other medicines required. Mr. Gore will arrange for close post-operative care with him, usually including an appointment with him in the fortnight after surgery and as many times after that as is required. Mr. Gore typically uses dissolving stitches in almost all of his surgery so that stitches rarely need to be formally removed. Mr. Gore takes a very strong interest in the care of his patients post-operatively and it is important to know that if you have any concerns regarding your progress he would rather hear from you than there be any uncertainty about your healing and progress.

Many aesthetic operations operate at the level of the skin and the structures just below the skin. Comprehensive local anaesthesia at the end of your surgery can minimise any discomfort from these operations. Rarely some discomfort can result following certain types of surgery that require attachment to deeper planes but this does not preclude daycase operating in most cases. It is important to Mr. Gore that you do not have significant post-operative pain and so you are discharged after your operation with a comprehensive range of painkiller medications to ensure your post-operative comfort.

Depending on how your operation is performed, Mr. Gore uses drains relatively uncommonly. There are some indications for small drains to be placed which can typically be removed a day or two after your operation. Full advice and support will be given regarding these if used. They are placed for your benefit to remove any remaining fluid from the operation site in the days after your procedure. They do not have a significant infection risk and Mr. Gore specifically uses low friction drains that are painless to remove.

Mr. Gore is unrivalled in his communication with his patients. He will be happy to host as many consultations as you feel are required prior to making a decision about surgery. He always telephones surgical patients a few days before their operation to ensure there are no last-minute questions. After surgery Mr. Gore keeps very close links with his patients either remotely or in person with all post-operative reviews being hosted by him or members of his staff. High levels of communication lead to high levels of satisfaction in his patients.

There are no fixed rules about driving after surgery but you must be able to drive entirely safely and normally as per normal conditions. If you have any discomfort that restricts particular movements then you should not drive. After most of Mr. Gore's significant procedures it is advised not to drive for a week but this can be tailored to your situation after your surgery. After breast and torso procedures, if being driven home by car it is useful for a pillow to be placed between you and your seatbelt so that no untoward pressure is placed upon your breasts or body by your seatbelt (which is essential).

In general, taking it easy for a week or so after major operations is advisable. This does not, however, mean staying in bed. You should be up and about pottering around the house. Gentle walks outside can be taken with appropriate care. Depending on your personal situation having some support from a loved one may be of value. If you have younger children it is particularly useful to have some help with them, particularly after breast and body procedures where straining and lifting is not advisable in the immediate post-operative period. It is useful to have your larder stocked prior to arriving back home so that daily chores such as shopping can be avoided for the first week or so after your procedure.

If you are generally fit and well, return to normal activity would be expected after your surgery. Formal physiotherapy is rarely needed because your normal everyday activity accounts for this. Mr. Gore's operations are typically not rearranging muscle tissue and as such your mobility and joint movement should be unimpeded in the longer term.

After any significant operation, it is expected that you would reduce your exercise schedule for a few weeks after the operation. This maximises the chances of not having post-operative complications of swelling or bleeding beyond what would be expected as normal. After significant breast or body surgery it is likely that you will return to some form of structured exercise after a few weeks; in many cases Mr. Gore recommends a return to high intensity gym exercise six weeks after your operation is completed. This cautious approach reflects his Mr. Gore's particular approach to peri-operative care and his desire for you to get the maximum outcome from your surgery that is possible.

Typically Mr. Gore’s patients do not fly within a week of their surgery. While flying in itself rarely causes problems after aesthetic surgery operations, Mr. Gore likes to be within reach in order to maintain his high levels of patient care. Being immobile during long haul flights does however, need to be considered carefully. If you are undertaking a longer flight the use of flight socks and specific exercises should be used. Mr. Gore would be happy to discuss all the relevant details of this in your case.

Mr. Gore prides himself on the outcomes of his surgery and as such all patients are seen in follow up at no extra charge. For many operations the outcomes of surgery are evident by six months and he is happy to follow you up during this period as much as is required. Other types of surgery take longer to mature fully (such as rhinoplasty surgery) and in those cases follow-up is extended for up to 2 years. Such appointments are normally pre-set to marry up his consulting times with your availability. Rarely appointment times have to change at short notice due to Mr. Gore's NHS cancer operating schedule. This is uncommon and we try to minimise this where possible.

Breast reduction and mastopexy surgery are part of a spectrum where breast tissue is rearranged or removed. This is done to create attractive youthfully shaped breasts (that are also lighter and smaller in the case of breast reduction). Typically the nipple will be moved up the breast and so there is a fine scar around the new nipple position with a vertical scar running from the lowest point of this scar around the nipple towards the fold under the breast. Whether a horizontal scar runs in the fold under the breast is a function of how significant you mastopexy or breast reduction is and is partly related to the skin excess that you start with. Such scars typically heal neatly. Whilst Mr. Gore is happy to advise on various scar healing interventions after your surgery, there is little strong evidence for one product over another. All surgery is completed with absorbable sutures. It usually takes some months for the final settling of the scars to take place but these scars are generally very well tolerated by patients.

If you are in the age group to undergo screening mammography this is useful prior to breast reduction or mastopexy surgery. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer then this needs to be carefully considered as part of your assessment for surgery. Mammography may be indicated before your surgery in this case. There is no evidence that breast augmentation, breast reduction or mastopexy surgery has any impact on the development of breast cancer subsequently.

Breast augmentation using silicone implants has been an established technique for many years. Numerous iterations of breast implants have been available and modern implants are designed to be a reliable, stable and safe for many years. They do not need routinely changing at 10 years as many believe. The indication to change implants is often based on personal desires and changes in the breast over a long period of time. Uncommonly problematic scar contracture can occur around implants and we understand that there are various factors related to the time of surgery and implant selection that affect this risk.

Recently there has been much discussion of BIA-ALCL (breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma) which has been described in the breast and is thought to be related to immune responses around an implant shell, potentially propagated by types of bacteria. For that reason breast augmentation procedures use rigorous anti-infection techniques. Mr. Gore will discuss the details of this with you at a consultation. All breast implant choices have various pros and cons and Mr. Gore feels that these should be selected in a bespoke way for you and your personal wishes.

BII (breast implant illness) is a recently characterised entity which is much talked about but which currently has little scientific data underpinning it. In previous generations there was discussion about the role of breast implants and development of connective tissue disorders but after much research this was proven to have no definitive scientific link. Whether breast implant illness goes on to be proven to have a clear aetiology is as yet unclear. Mr. Gore will be very happy to discuss the details of this at a consultation.

One of the more important considerations in implant selection is the risk of capsular contracture. This is where the normally occurring scar capsule that surrounds any implant in the body becomes activated, contracts, tightens and can cause discomfort and disfigurement. Rates of contracture have decreased over the years as improvements in implant technology and our understanding of techniques has evolved. The different implant surfaces available (smooth, microtextured, macrotextured) and the various implant manufacturers have different risks of this association. The risk of implant malposition and problematic contracture are significantly higher than the risks of ALCL development and as such Mr. Gore feels it is important to consider these in any choices that are made.

Breast implants are defined by their dimensions, volume and weight. As well as their surface characteristics, all breast implants available in the UK have a silicone outer shell and most implants used in the UK are filled with a silicone gel. This gel can be variably stiff (cohesive) such that it retains its shape and as a consequence adds shape to the breast in a positive manner. There are numerous variables of breast implants beyond this and Mr. Gore feels these all need consideration in any consultation. In many cases the variables interact and the need for one variable may determine choices in other variables.

1. Implant volume – breast size increase desired
2. Implant shape – round or tear-drop (anatomical)
3. Surgical plane - above or (partially) below the pectoral muscle
4. Implant surface – smooth / textured / polyurethane-coated
5. Implant fill – saline / cohesive gel / lightweight gel
6. Surgical access - scar under the breast or other

Ultimately a modest implant in a small, but reasonably well-shaped breast is likely to give an excellent outcome and may not be palpable. More difficult cases include those where breast shape has been lost due to deflation (commonly after pregnancy and breastfeeding) or where revision surgery is being undertaken after previous breast augmentation. If little existing or residual breast tissue is present, the use of highly shaped anatomical (teardrop-shaped) breast implants can add shape to the breast in a pleasing way. Mr. Gore feels that the use of round implants are a compromise in such situations and he would be happy to explain to you why this is in the setting of a consultation.

Most routine breast operations ((augmentation with implants, breast reduction, mastopexy, or combinations thereof) can be undertaken on a day case basis if desired. The use of drains is sometimes indicated (especially in revision surgery) but this does not preclude having to stay in hospital. Mr. Gore chooses to follow his patients up very closely post-operatively. A clinical review by him or his team takes place within the days after surgery to ensure that your recovery is as smooth as possible.

Mr. Gore is happy to advise you specifically on the types of bras that you will find useful after surgery. In general terms, front-opening support bras with adjustable shoulder straps are useful after aesthetic breast surgery. An additional breast strap can be useful in certain types of breast augmentation surgery, for which specific brands of bra are particularly suitable. Mr. Gore advises wearing such bras night and day for a month after surgery to ensure excellent post-operative outcomes, with normal bras normally being manageable about six weeks after surgery. Mr. Gore is happy to discuss how strictly these rules should be adhered to; exceptions for special occasions can always be accommodated.

In all cases Mr. Gore uses absorbable sutures and dressing tapes that can get wet in the shower. For that reason Mr. Gore is happy for you to shower every day after surgery if you wish. Replacing your bra after your shower is advisable, such that your breasts are well supported for all the time other than showering in the weeks after your operation.

It is not uncommon for nipple sensitivity to be slightly reduced after breast reduction and mastopexy surgery. This is partly a function of how far the nipple needs to be moved and on what base of breast tissue the nipple is maintained. Mr. Gore does not routinely undertake free nipple grafting as he manages to keep the nipple perfused on a bed of breast tissue in all cases. It is not uncommon for sensitivity to return in the months after surgery. It is difficult to promise a return to absolute normality in all patients. Patients present with a wide variety of nipple sensitivity prior to the surgery and Mr. Gore's post-operative outcome scoring shows that whilst noted, this is not a defining outcome that affects the positive outcome of this surgery.

Breasts that have sagged (known as breast ptosis) can be reconstructed using a combination of techniques that aim to redistribute breast volume, reduce surface area and reposition the nipple. These techniques aim to recreate a youthful breast with a shape and volume to your satisfaction. Sometimes enough breast tissue is present to redistribute your existing volume and recreate a shapely breast of adequate size. If you have lost significant breast volume these techniques can be combined with other implant-based techniques (mastopexy-augmentation) or upper bodylift auto-augmentation tissue redistribution techniques to increase breast volume if such tissue is available.

All abdominoplasty surgery should consider the skin and subcutaneous fat separately to the underlying muscle layer. Sometimes repairing the muscle layer is important, particularly in the setting of a hernia or if the muscles have been stretched after pregnancy (rectus divarication). If access to the muscles above the belly button are needed, or there is much skin laxity above the belly button, then a full abdominoplasty will normally give a more comprehensive result. If limited skin laxity and / or muscle separation is present only below the belly button then a mini-abdominoplasty may suffice. A full abdominoplasty typically leaves the belly button on its stalk and after any muscle repair the remaining abdominal wall skin is re-draped smoothly with the umbilicus (belly button) brought out in its original position. A small scar surrounds the belly button as a result but this is usually innocuous and many women go on to feel comfortable in bikinis after surgery. In contrast a mini-abdominoplasty keeps the umbilicus in connection with the surrounding skin but it may finish a little lower than its original position. Post-operative use of compression garments is an important part of this treatment and this is something Mr. Gore will be happy to guide you on. Mr. Gore will be happy to discuss all the various options available to you.

Significant weight loss is an additional reason why people seek body contouring surgery. Contouring the abdominal wall is typically the starting point of people who have lost a significant amount of weight. Operations in this setting range from apronectomy or abdominoplasty through to a lower bodylift (otherwise known as a belt lipectomy). Such operations can provide a comprehensive correction of the sequelae of massive weight loss which typically results in significant skin folds in the region of the waist, flanks and back. Which of these procedures is most suitable for you is a function of how much weight you have lost, how extensive your skin and tissue excess is, and what your desired endpoint is. After bariatric surgery it is not uncommon for a lower bodylift to provide the most comprehensive correction of this region of the body and Mr. Gore would be happy to talk to you about this.

Brachioplasty and thigh lift surgery aim to comprehensively correct the effects of massive weight loss in these areas, improving the appearance of “bingo wings” and the ability to wear the clothing of your choice. Both types of surgery involve residual volume reduction with liposuction and contouring of skin. Only in very limited cases is liposuction suitable on its own; typically skin contouring is also required and as such the scar produced from this surgery needs careful discussion. Such scars can be discretely placed. Consideration also needs to be given to extending the contouring onto the upper chest wall or into the groin to achieve optimal results. Post-operative use of compression garments is an important part of this treatment and this is something Mr. Gore will be happy to guide you on.

Sagging of the upper eyelid and brow tissues is common as the years go by. Depending on your starting point, upper blepharoplasty and / or browlift surgery may be suitable. There are numerous variants of both types of operation and consideration must be given to both the volume of your soft tissues in this region as well as skin excess or laxity. The position of your hairline and how you wear your hair has a bearing on browlift choices also. Some of the more simplistic operations may be carried out under local anaesthetic whereas the more advanced techniques are better carried out under sedation or general anaesthesia.

Lower eyelid bags are a consequence of a loss of midfacial tissue volume and sagging of the deeper soft tissue layers resulting in a bulge of the orbital fat behind the lower eyelid. Addressing the skin only is often not enough in these cases to make a significant difference; accessing the deeper layers and correcting them is important in this situation. Lower eyelid surgery of this sort can be combined with a midface lift to produce a smooth harmonious transition from your rejuvenated lower eyelid to your cheek. The stability of your eyelid is important to consider and sometimes additional manoeuvres are used to reduce the risk of developing eyelid asymmetry. Mr. Gore will be happy to talk about the details of this intricate surgery at your consultation.

Mr. Gore typically asks that all eyelid surgery patients are assessed by their optometrist for their pre-existing tear film status. This has a bearing on surgery and there is no doubt that a predisposition to dry eye alters the approach to surgery. Many patients may have a predisposition to this that they are unaware of and it is very important that this is not unmasked after otherwise successful surgery. Mr. Gore will be happy to discuss this with you at the time of your assessment.

Scars from upper blepharoplasty are typically very well hidden in the eyelid and heal remarkably well. This area can also be hidden with standard make up if desired. The scar position is entirely hidden when your eyes are open. The skin scar from lower eyelid surgery is typically placed immediately under the eyelashes and often heals very neatly. It is rare for these scars to be problematic or visible. In the younger age group with lower eyelid bags a scar-free technique, accessing the bags through the lining of the eyelid and having no external scar may be possible but this needs specific discussion with Mr. Gore as to your suitability for these advanced techniques.

It is not uncommon to have some bruising and swelling around the eyelids for at least a week following surgery. Many patients plan to take two weeks out of their normal work and social lives after this surgery. The amount of bruising is variable and this is a function of your physiology. Mr. Gore takes great care to use specific techniques in your surgery to minimise bruising post-operatively.

Generally good skin care is useful in the setting of facial skin health. This is particularly the case after prolonged sun damage or with fair skin that is sensitive to the effects of the sun. In the longer term, use of a facial moisturiser with some inbuilt sun protection factor is always useful. In some aspects of facial rejuvenation surgery (such as facial peels) there may be a role for specific skin pre-conditioning but in general terms keeping your skin well hydrated and moisturised is much as is required.

Facelift surgery aims to correct the lower cheek, jowls, nasolabial folds, marionette lines and upper neck. It is often combined with more comprehensive neck contouring surgery (known as a platysmaplasty) to give better outcomes in the neck as well as in the face. Short scar surgery involves a shorter scar which gives more limited access to as the deeper structures of the face that need addressing. It is my belief that in general terms if you do more you get more; a short scar facelift may be suitable for those who are younger with less significant laxity or jowls but it is generally not suitable for those with a more advanced situation. More extensive scars do not necessarily mean that they will be visible – these scars are typically very neatly hidden around the ear, hairtuft and the back of the ear to make them unobtrusive.

The plane of facelifting refers to modification of the facial soft tissues at a deeper plane than just under the skin. These are more advanced techniques that are often suitable for both primary and secondary facelift patients. This can give longer lasting benefits to both the face and neck when compared to more superficial dissection planes. As a specialist in facial reconstruction, Mr. Gore is experienced in these techniques and routinely uses them in revision cases, where patients are dissatisfied with the outcome of their initially more superficial surgery undertaken elsewhere.

Neck lifting refers to addressing the soft tissues of the neck to re-establish a youthful contour. People seek surgery of this sort for many different reasons, including blunting of the normal youthful angle between the neck and the jaw, the presence of oblique muscle bands or laxity of the central neck soft tissue and skin (referred to by many as their ‘turkey neck’). In these cases central access to the neck may be required by a short horizontal scar but the access provided gives unrivalled benefit compared to access from the side alone. More commonly these techniques are combined with full facelift techniques and to give a comprehensive rejuvenation of the cheeks, jawline and neck.

The deepening of the nasolabial folds (and similarly your marionette lines, running from the corner of your mouth to your jaw) are a consequence of soft tissue volume loss combined with descent of the facial soft tissues from their original position. Correction of these folds therefore is ideally achieved with a combination of soft tissue volume augmentation and restoration of tissue position. Soft tissue volume augmentation can be carried out in its own right using fillers as an office procedure whereas using your own fat in the form of structural fat grafting is typically carried out as part of a more comprehensive operation. Combining tissue replacement with lifting techniques (such as midface lifting, facelifting and necklifting) is not uncommon.

Mr. Gore commonly sees patients who have had filler injections for years and who have gone past the point of them being effective. In many cases they have been given for too long and produce some undesired consequences in terms of appearance and tissue rigidity. Performing eyelid and facelift surgery in this setting is undoubtedly more difficult but is still very possible. The effect of those fillers does produce internal scarring which needs to be negotiated in your surgery but the power of this surgery transcends anything that can be achieved by fillers.

Yes. It is possible to have all facial rejuvenation operations under sedation, using advanced anaesthesia techniques which Mr. Gore and his anaesthetic colleagues specialise in. The advantages of this include the administration of less sedating drugs, facilitating a quicker recovery, less nausea and a higher chance of surgery being undertaken on a day case basis if desired.

All skin that is lifted and advanced can be a little numb for a period of time after your procedure. In the fullness of time this typically returns to normal or near-normal levels. There are other deeper nerves that must be identified in facelift surgery. These include sensory nerves to the ear and motor nerves to the muscles of the face. It is not uncommon for the ear to be little numb for a short time after surgery but it is uncommon for it to have reduced sensation in the long term. Facial muscle movement is of course critical to normal emotional expression. Being careful of the facial nerve branches is critical and this is relevant to deep plane facelift surgery. Rarely some short-lasting weakness is apparent in the lower branches of the face and can occasionally affect some nuances of lower lip expression. It is very uncommon for this to be long lasting. Permanent nerve damage in the setting of facelift surgery is exceedingly rare and Mr. Gore will be happy to discuss the details of this at your consultation.

Mr. Gore is happy to discuss with you the likely outcomes of your surgery, both in terms of breathing ability and nose appearance. He uses photography morphing to illustrate surgical outcomes that could be possible. Some patients requesting dramatic changes will see an obvious change immediately after their dressings are removed, a week or so after surgery. For others requesting more subtle changes it may take longer to see the power of their operation.

A significant component of all rhinoplasty surgery involves consideration of how you breathe. Some patients start their journey knowing that their airway is impaired and this is a significant goal of their operation. Others find that having their breathing improved by surgery is a hidden benefit and improves their quality of life accordingly. If significant deviations or spurs within the septum cause breathing problems then altering this in the form of a septorhinoplasty would be advised. Breathing is typically dramatically improved after surgery and this improves yet further after removal of any internal splints used. Changes in the ability to breathe is typically long lasting. Sometimes enlarged turbinates are a cause of obstructed breathing and depending on the nature of this, this can be operated on at the same time as your (septo)rhinoplasty surgery.

Usually rhinoplasty surgery is not particularly painful. Standard painkillers are adequate post-operatively in the majority of cases. Some degree of swelling around the lower eyelids may be expected when significant bony alteration has taken place; any associated bruising usually settles within a week. The post-operative regime of nostril cleaning and care will be advised by Mr. Gore with the various necessary sprays and ointments given to you on the day of your surgery.

Closed rhinoplasty involves incisions within the nostrils only and no external incisions. Open rhinoplasty connects the nostril incisions with zigzag incision across the columella (the skin between the nostrils). Opening the nose in this way affords a greater degree of visualisation of the nasal cartilage structures to be altered. Mr. Gore will be happy to discuss the difference in open and closed rhinoplasty in your case and which of these techniques you are most suitable for.

Structural rhinoplasty and preservation rhinoplasty are terms that describe different approaches to achieving the same goals in rhinoplasty surgery. Depending on your starting point and goals, these different techniques can be used in combination and apply to bony hump, asymmetry and nasal tip concerns. Preservation rhinoplasty approaches have the advantage of reducing the need for the dissection of some structures of the nose, improving post-operative speed of healing. Specialist equipment is required for both of these approaches and Mr. Gore will be happy to use his specially imported instruments for your surgery.

All scars can potentially be visible but the low location of the scar of an open rhinoplasty typically heals very favourably and it is incredibly uncommon for this scar to be noticed by others within a few weeks of surgery.

An external dressing, possibly including a rigid splint, will be applied after your surgery. This typically stays intact for 7-10 days and is removed by Mr. Gore himself. If the septum is altered or septal cartilage is harvested during your operation, he will often place intranasal splints at the time of your surgery. These are also removed around the time that your external splint is taken off. The splints facilitate breathing through your nose after your surgery. They can reduce your sense of smell but this is only temporary and this improves upon splint removal soon after your operation.