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All You Need To Know About Rhinoplasties (2021)

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Portrait of Dr Samuel Ho
Dr Samuel Ho

May 3rd, 2017· 5 min read

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I just want to be prepared...

Nose jobs, or rhinoplasties, are one of my favourite procedures to perform as a plastic surgeon in Singapore. I enjoy discussing with patients on how they can achieve the most aesthetic and natural looking nose possible.

This applies especially to those who are tired of having nose fillers or threads done repeatedly or the typical widened/ill-defined appearance their procedure might have given their nose.

However, there are many factors to consider in tailoring the best type of rhinoplasty for you. In fact, for a surgeon, planning and performing the surgery can be daunting. This is why many plastic surgeons in Singapore simply choose not to perform rhinoplasties beyond simply placing a silicone implant.

In this post, I will guide you through important areas such as:

  • How you can avoid a bad outcome after a rhinoplasty surgery
  • How much does a rhinoplasty in Singapore cost
  • How you can choose the best rhinoplasty surgeon in Singapore

Up to 55% of Singaporeans seek a revision after a rhinoplasty, as they are unhappy with the results. Reading this post will ensure that you are not one of them!

What do Singaporeans wrongly assume about rhinoplasties?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions that people have is that there is only one type of nose job or only one type of look that can be achieved.

Rhinoplasties comprise of a whole spectrum of procedures. This can range from a simple silicone implant insertion, to one of the most complex surgeries in plastic surgery.

For me, it really is a balance of these factors:

  1. What the patient wants
  2. What needs to be changed from a surgeon’s viewpoint
  3. What is possible based on the patient’s nose

Once these are assessed in detail, I will then lay out a formal plan for the nose job. Remember, this can be compared to carrying out a housing renovation where the client’s wishes are balanced against the interior designer's aesthetic sensibilities and what the characteristics of the house are.

The other misconception is that rhinoplasties are major surgeries with a lot of bruising, downtime, and involve changing the nose completely. Again, this really depends on what is being changed – I’ve many patients who are able to go back to work looking normal after a simple bridge augmentation after a few days.

Are there any good alternatives to getting a nose job in Singapore?

nose filler injection

There are non-surgical alternatives – fillers and threads are extremely popular. Personally, I feel fillers are great if you simply desire a very small change in the area where your nose bridge joins the forehead.

However, remember to never use a permanent or semi-permanent filler – you are exposing yourself to all the possible risks of a silicone implant without the benefits.

“But my friend says that getting nose fillers or thread lifts is just as effective, and no need surgery!”

Nose fillers and threads are temporary measures to augment the nose. However, they have a number of limitations:

  • Need to repeat the procedure every 9-12 months
  • Good for nose bridge but not effective for nose tip, the width of the nose, or changing the length of the nose
  • Many problems when used to augment the tip and alter the length
  • Risk of blindness and skin necrosis with nose fillers

They are much less effective, but it allows you to avoid surgery.

Also read: Nose Fillers VS Nose Thread Lift in Singapore - As Told By Doctors

How much does a rhinoplasty cost in Singapore?

closeup of a womans nose

The cost of surgery varies with what needs to be done, as the complexity and time taken will increase significantly.

The range goes between $4,000 - $20,000. That includes:

  • Surgical fee
  • Operating room
  • Facility cost
  • Anaesthesia cost
  • Medication, and follow-ups.

P.S. Keen to find out what are your options for rhinoplasty in Singapore? Skip to the end to send a free enquiry to multiple trusted aesthetic surgeons to get their opinions on treatments and costs!

What factors affect the cost of a rhinoplasty in Singapore?

doctor with a stethoscope

The main factor would be the complexity of the surgery because this affects the duration of the surgery and the number of procedures that have to be done during the rhinoplasty. For example, if the bridge needs to be higher, the nose has to be straighter and longer, and the tip sharper, it is going to end up costing a fair bit more than a simple bridge augmentation.

The next major cost factor would be the facility where it is done. If it is done in a major operating theatre of a private hospital, it’s going to cost a lot more. I do many of my rhinoplasties in a simple day surgery operating theatre because that is all that is required.

In fact, I am personally very comfortable within such a setting because I performed many surgeries in simple theatres during my training in Korea. That was the norm over there.

The surgeon performing the surgery also matters as surgical fees also vary from doctor to doctor. If you choose to have an anaesthetist and have it done under general anaesthesia, it is also going to cost more – simple rhinoplasties can be done under sedation and local anaesthesia.

Are there any subsidies for rhinoplasties in Singapore, such as if I have breathing issues?

a piggy bank with a stethoscope

Functional rhinoplasties, such as for breathing problems after injuring your nose in an accident, are performed for medical reasons.

For these reasons, the fees can be covered by Medisave. It can also be covered by insurance, provided the insurance policy was bought before the original injury.

What is the most common rhinoplasty procedure in Singapore?

The most common request I get is for a higher, sharper bridge. This is usually performed using a silicone or Goretex implant. However, I do quite a number of these procedures using the patients’ own cartilage from the ear.

The results have been excellent. One reason why it works so well is because you are using your own tissues, so there's no foreign material or risk of infection. This is particularly useful for patients who are heavy smokers or have sinus issues.

What is the rhinoplasty procedure in Singapore like?

I typically perform the rhinoplasty procedure under local anaesthesia and sedation. This allows the patient to be comfortable and asleep during the entire procedure, yet avoids the issues with general anaesthesia, such as bad nausea, vomiting, sore throat, and so on.

The procedure is done either open or closed – this means I either have to make a small cut on the underside of the nose between the nostrils (columella) or I do it through the nostrils. This depends on what needs to be performed. The procedure can last between one to four hours, again depending on the complexity.

What should you expect during a rhinoplasty procedure?

You can expect to be totally asleep and unaware of what is going on. Usually, I will wake the patients up at the end so they can have an immediate look at the new nose with a mirror, just before applying the taping and dressing.

I don’t pack 99% of my rhinoplasties, so you can expect to be breathing through your nose immediately after. This makes it more comfortable for my patients during the recovery.

How can you be sure that you will be happy with the outcomes of the rhinoplasty?

woman smiling and looking to right of photo

The main step to ensure a good long lasting result is to create a strong cartilage framework under the skin of the nose. This will ensure that the new nose shape withstands the internal scarring that will occur months after.

It is also important to have the pictures of the patient during the surgery, so that I always have a point of comparison point as I am shaping the new nose. This allows me to keep the nose natural-looking and not change the appearance too drastically.

You may want to find out what are the two most common rhinoplasty procedures done in Singapore

Will your friends be able to tell that you had a nose job?

female friends chatting after exercise

Yes, because there will be improvements to the overall appearance of the nose. It is a strange question I often get asked; why would you want to undergo a procedure that no one can tell the difference. What's important is that it looks much better after the procedure.

The other key factor is that new people you meet shouldn’t be able to tell – it should appear that you were born with a nice nose. That is a hallmark of a successful rhinoplasty.

Is getting a nose job painful?

It is not painful during the surgery as you will not feel or be aware of what is happening. The post-operative discomfort is relatively mild and can be managed with oral painkillers.

How long is the downtime of a rhinoplasty, and what are the side effects?

woman with a bandaged nose

You shouldn’t have much bruising; a lot of my patients hardly have any bruising. Swelling is a given – the swelling in the bridge goes down after a week, the swelling in the tip goes down significantly after 1-2 weeks but may take 3-4 months before the final tip sharpness is seen.

You will have some slight nasal obstruction for a couple of days. After that, you should be breathing normally.

The donor site (which can be the ear or ears) also plays a role. The ears will have some swelling and bruising which will be resolved after 1-2 weeks. Stitch removal, if required, is in 10 days.

How can you find the best rhinoplasty surgeon in Singapore?

There is no best rhinoplasty surgeon. It is most important that you find a surgeon, who has the same aesthetic sensibilities as you, as it is his/her aesthetic eye that you will be trusting once you lie on the operating table.

Communication is very important. Take the time to discuss with your doctor what you like or want. You should also look at his past works to get an idea of his aesthetic sense. Everyone’s idea of a nice nose is different – I have turned away some patients who requested for noses that are way out of what I consider aesthetically-pleasing for their face, gender, or race.

Lastly, I would like to point out that you should be very wary of simulations. They always look too perfect, just like a Photoshopped picture. The surgeon may not be able to deliver on this and it would be risky to base your decision on a simulated picture of your new nose.


Dr Samuel Ho is a plastic surgeon at Allure Plastic Sugery. He has worked alongside top plastic surgeons at plastic surgery centres in Korea, such as the Hanyang University Hospital, 101 Plastic Surgery Clinic and BIO Plastic Surgery Clinic. Aside from regular work, Dr Samuel is a supporter of a not-for-profit medical volunteer organization that provides reconstructive facial surgery to young children in Indonesia.


I hope that you've found this guide useful, and perhaps gained more insight into the application process. Most of the admissions-related information (admin and logistics wise) can be found on the official NUS Faculty of Dentistry website.

To help yourself out, you should take note of what people look for when they look for a dentist.

This article was written by Dr Samuel Ho and published on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. Human medically reviewed the article on Wednesday, 25 January 2017. The last update was made on Friday, 18 September 2020.

Disclaimer: Opinions belong to the author and not to the platform.

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