Professor Sandip Hindocha is a consultant plastic surgeon on the GMC specialist register (GMC 6122218). He read medicine at the University of Manchester, holds FRCS (Plast), and has practised for more than twenty years. He consults and operates across the north west, and rhinoplasty is among the procedures he performs most regularly.
This page sets out what rhinoplasty involves, which techniques are used and when, what recovery is realistically like, and what happens when you come in. If you would rather just talk it through, the number is at the bottom.
Where he sees patients in the north west
Consultations in Greater Manchester are held at Hale, 26 Park Road, Altrincham WA15 9NN. He also consults at Circle Cheshire in Northwich and at Newton-le-Willows, so if one location is easier to reach than another, say so when you call.
Surgery is carried out in CQC-regulated facilities. Which one depends on the procedure and on your own medical history, and it is confirmed before you commit to anything.
What rhinoplasty is
Rhinoplasty, often called a nose job, is surgery to change the shape, size or function of the nose. People come for it for two broad reasons, and often both at once: how the nose looks, and how well it works.
On the appearance side, the common reasons are a prominent bump on the bridge, asymmetry, a nasal tip that droops or is wider than someone would like, or a nose that has changed shape after an injury. On the functional side, a deviated septum or collapsed nasal valves can restrict airflow and make breathing harder, particularly at night or during exercise.
The nose sits at the centre of the face, so small changes read as large ones. That cuts both ways, and it is the reason the planning conversation matters as much as the operation.
The four techniques, and when each is used
There is no single rhinoplasty. Which approach suits you depends on what needs changing and on the structure you start with.
- Open rhinoplasty. A small incision is made across the columella, the strip of skin between the nostrils, so the nasal structures can be seen directly. It gives the most precise access and is generally used for more complex reshaping.
- Closed rhinoplasty. All the incisions sit inside the nose, so there is no external scar. It is less invasive and recovery tends to be quicker, but it suits a narrower range of corrections.
- Functional rhinoplasty. Aimed at breathing rather than appearance, usually correcting a deviated septum or supporting collapsed nasal valves. It is often combined with cosmetic reshaping in the same operation.
- Revision rhinoplasty. For patients who have had nose surgery before and are either unhappy with the result or have developed a complication. Revision work is more demanding than a first operation, because scar tissue and altered anatomy change what is possible.
What happens at your consultation
The consultation is with Professor Hindocha himself, not a patient adviser or a salesperson.
He will examine your nose inside and out, take a medical history, and ask what is actually bothering you. 3D imaging is used to show what a change might look like, though it is a planning tool rather than a promise. You will talk through the techniques that would suit your anatomy, the risks specific to you, and what recovery would mean for your work and your commitments.
If he does not think surgery is the right answer for you, he will say so. That happens, and it is a reasonable outcome of a consultation.
The operation itself
Rhinoplasty takes around two to three hours, depending on how much is being corrected. Revision work and functional components add time.
It is performed under general anaesthetic as a day case, so you go home the same day with written aftercare instructions and a recovery plan. A nasal splint is worn for the first week.
Recovery, honestly
The splint comes off after about a week, and that is usually when people feel able to go out without attracting attention. Bruising around the eyes is common in the first fortnight and varies a lot between people.
Most of the visible swelling settles over the following weeks, but the nose continues to refine for up to a year, particularly at the tip. Anyone who tells you the final result is visible at six weeks is not describing rhinoplasty. Your own timeline, and when you can return to work, exercise and contact sport, is discussed at consultation.
Who rhinoplasty suits
- People in good general health
- Non-smokers, or people willing to stop before and after surgery
- Anyone aged 16 or over, once nasal growth is complete
- People correcting an injury, a congenital difference, or a breathing problem
- People with clear and realistic expectations about what surgery can change
Results vary from person to person. Risks, limitations and the likely outcome for you specifically are discussed before you decide anything.
What it costs
There is no single price for rhinoplasty, and any clinic quoting one before seeing you is guessing. The cost depends on the technique, the complexity of the correction, whether functional work is included, and the anaesthetic and facility fees for the site where you have surgery.
Consultation and surgical fees are agreed with you in writing before any treatment goes ahead. Ask for the full figure, including aftercare and any follow-up, so you are comparing like with like against other quotes.
Why the surgeon matters more than the clinic
In the UK, anyone with a medical degree can legally call themselves a cosmetic surgeon. The meaningful check is the GMC specialist register: a surgeon on the plastic surgery register has completed full specialist training in the field.
Professor Hindocha’s registration number is 6122218, which you can look up directly on the GMC website. He holds FRCS (Plast), is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, and is Chief Medical Officer of The Private Clinic Group.
Common questions
How long does rhinoplasty take?
Around two to three hours for a standard procedure. Revision surgery and functional work take longer, and you will be given a personalised estimate at consultation.
Will there be a visible scar?
With closed rhinoplasty, the incisions are entirely inside the nose. With open rhinoplasty there is a small incision across the columella, which typically settles to a fine line.
Can rhinoplasty fix my breathing as well as the shape?
Often, yes. Functional and cosmetic work are regularly combined in a single operation. Whether that applies to you depends on what is causing the obstruction, which is assessed at examination.
How soon can I go back to work?
Most people plan for one to two weeks away, largely because of the splint and bruising rather than pain. Contact sport is left considerably longer. Your own timeline is agreed at consultation.
Talk to Professor Hindocha about rhinoplasty
Consultations in Greater Manchester are held at Hale, Altrincham. He will examine you, tell you whether the procedure is appropriate, and explain the risks and recovery before you decide anything.
Call 07740 306144contact@luxplasticsurgery.co.uk
Clinics in Bedford, London, Manchester, Cheshire and Newton-le-Willows.