Preparing well for rhinoplasty starts weeks before surgery, at your first consultation. That is where your goals, nasal structure and breathing are assessed and a surgical plan is agreed. The weeks that follow are about practical steps: stopping smoking, reviewing your medicines, arranging time off and planning help at home.

At Symmetry Clinic, Mr Santdeep Paun leads every consultation and performs every operation himself. This guide walks through each stage of rhinoplasty in London, so you know what to expect before your operation.

Your own surgical team's instructions always come first. This guide explains the typical steps; it does not replace personal medical advice.

Stage 1: Your Rhinoplasty Consultation

Your first appointment is with Mr Paun, a Consultant Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgeon, at 9 Harley Street or HCA at The Shard. The consultation costs £275, including 3D imaging where appropriate.

During the consultation, Mr Paun will:

• Listen to your goals: What you would like to change and what you would like to keep.
• Examine your nose inside and out: Its structure, skin, tip and bridge, and how it relates to the rest of your face.
• Assess your breathing: Rhinoplasty can address function as well as appearance, so any blockage is part of the plan.
• Discuss your options: Whether rhinoplasty suits you and which surgical approach fits your anatomy, open or closed.
• Talk through recovery and risks: So you can make an informed decision.

You will then receive a detailed quote. Payment plans may be available through the admitting hospitals.

Our guide to questions to ask your rhinoplasty surgeon can help you get the most from this appointment. For pricing, see how much rhinoplasty costs in London.

How 3D Imaging Is Used

3D facial imaging gives you and your surgeon a shared picture of the changes being discussed. It helps you talk about proportions, the profile and the balance between the nose and the rest of your face.

Imaging is a planning tool, not a guarantee. Healing, skin thickness and the structure of your nose all affect the final result. Mr Paun will explain what is realistic for your nose.

Stage 2: Taking Time to Decide

The Royal College of Surgeons' professional standards for cosmetic surgery call for a cooling-off period of at least two weeks before a patient consents to an operation. Use this time to read your information, think about your goals and come back with any questions.

Many patients find a second appointment helpful before booking a surgery date.

Stage 3: The Weeks Before Surgery

Stop Smoking

Smoking irritates the inside of the nose and slows healing. ENT UK advises that, ideally, you should stop smoking three months before surgery. Your GP or pharmacist can help you quit.

Review Your Medicines and Supplements

Tell your surgical team about everything you take, including prescription medicines, over-the-counter painkillers, herbal remedies and supplements. Some can increase bleeding. Never stop a prescribed medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Plan Time Off Work

ENT UK advises taking two weeks off work after nose surgery, and longer if your job is dusty or physically demanding. Most people prefer to be away from public events for at least the first week, while the splint is on.

Plan Your Diary

Avoid booking flights for 14 days after surgery, and plan to avoid strenuous exercise for two weeks and contact sport for a couple of months. If you have an important event, discuss your timing with Mr Paun at your consultation.

Arrange Help at Home

You will need someone to take you home after surgery. It is also helpful to have someone with you for the first night.

Prepare Your Recovery Space

Have plenty of pillows to keep your head raised, and soft foods, water and prescribed medicines ready. Have a button-up top so you do not need to pull clothes over your face.

Stage 4: The Day of Surgery

Rhinoplasty is carried out under general anaesthetic, so you will be asleep. You will be given fasting instructions beforehand. ENT UK's patient guidance on septorhinoplasty gives a typical operating time of two to five hours, depending on what is needed.

Many patients go home the same day, while some stay one night. When you wake up, you will usually have a small splint on the outside of your nose. You may also have soft packing inside, which is usually removed within a day or dissolves.

Stage 5: The First Days After Surgery

The external splint usually stays on for one to two weeks and is removed in clinic. Expect some bruising around the eyes for a few days. Swelling settles gradually over the following months.

Our guides to what to expect after rhinoplasty and the rhinoplasty recovery timeline, week by week cover recovery in detail.

Your Rhinoplasty Preparation Checklist

• Book your consultation and bring a list of questions
• Take time to decide (at least two weeks)
• Stop smoking, ideally three months before
• Give your team a full list of medicines and supplements
• Book two weeks off work
• Avoid flights for 14 days after surgery
• Arrange a lift home and someone to stay the first night
• Prepare pillows, soft food and button-up clothes

Rhinoplasty in London With Mr Santdeep Paun

Mr Paun is a Consultant Nasal and Facial Plastic Surgeon and Medical Director of Symmetry Clinic, and former Head of Department at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospitals. Read more about Mr Santdeep Paun.

To find out whether rhinoplasty is right for you, read about rhinoplasty in London at Symmetry Clinic, or book a consultation.