Treatment face
Reshape your nose with precision through open rhinoplasty. This surgical technique gives Mr Wilson complete visibility of the nasal structure, supporting detailed, controlled reshaping for a more balanced, natural-looking result.
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The shape and structure of the nose can significantly influence facial balance and appearance. Some people may be concerned about the size, shape or proportions of their nose, while others may have structural concerns that affect nasal function.
Open rhinoplasty provides direct access to the nasal framework, allowing Mr Wilson to carefully assess and reshape the cartilage and bone. Depending on your anatomy and goals, surgery may address areas such as the nasal bridge, nasal tip, nostrils or overall proportions of the nose.
At Paul Wilson Aesthetics, every rhinoplasty is individually planned around your facial anatomy, concerns and desired outcome. During your consultation, Mr Wilson will discuss whether an open approach is appropriate for you, or whether your case would benefit from a closed rhinoplasty technique instead.
About
Open rhinoplasty is a form of rhinoplasty surgery in which the surgeon makes small incisions inside the nostrils as well as an additional incision across the columella, the strip of tissue between the nostrils.
The skin and soft tissue can then be carefully lifted to expose the underlying nasal framework. This provides the surgeon with a direct view of the cartilage and bone, allowing detailed assessment and precise surgical changes.
Depending on the individual treatment plan, open rhinoplasty may involve reshaping, repositioning or supporting the nasal cartilage and bone. The procedure can address concerns involving the bridge, nasal tip, nasal profile, or overall nasal proportions.
An open approach can be particularly useful when detailed structural changes are required or when the nasal framework needs to be assessed during surgery.
Differences
The main difference between open and closed rhinoplasty is where the surgical incisions are made and how the nasal structures are accessed.
In a closed rhinoplasty, all incisions are made inside the nostrils. The surgeon works through these internal openings without creating an external incision across the columella.
In an open rhinoplasty, incisions are made inside the nostrils as well as across the columella. This allows the surgeon to lift the skin and gain greater direct visibility of the underlying nasal structures.
The choice between open and closed rhinoplasty depends on factors including your nasal anatomy, the changes required, previous surgery and the complexity of the procedure. During your consultation, Mr Wilson will assess and discuss which surgical approach is most appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Concerns
Open rhinoplasty can address a range of concerns related to the shape and structure of the nose. Depending on your anatomy and treatment goals, surgery may involve:
The precise changes possible will depend on your existing nasal structure, skin and soft tissue, and the amount and type of alteration required.
benefits
For suitable patients, the open approach gives the surgeon direct visibility of the nasal framework during surgery. This can be particularly useful when detailed structural changes or precise reshaping are required.
Potential benefits of the open approach may include:
The potential benefits of open rhinoplasty vary between individuals. Your expected outcome will depend on your anatomy, the changes required, healing and other factors discussed during your consultation.
candidates
Open rhinoplasty may suit adults concerned about the appearance or structure of their nose who are considering surgical reshaping. You may be considered suitable for open rhinoplasty if you:
An open approach may be particularly considered when more detailed structural changes are required, when significant tip reshaping is planned, or when previous surgery has altered the nasal framework.
Your suitability will be assessed during a consultation. Mr Wilson will consider your nasal anatomy, skin and soft tissue, medical history, previous surgery if applicable, and the changes you would like to make.
What to expect
Your treatment begins with a detailed consultation, during which Mr Wilson will assess your nasal anatomy, skin quality and breathing function, and discuss the changes you hope to achieve. Vectra 3D imaging may be used to help visualise potential outcomes and align expectations before any decision is made. If breathing difficulties are a concern alongside the aesthetic changes, Mr Wilson can advise whether a combined septorhinoplasty is appropriate.
Open rhinoplasty is typically performed under general anaesthesia. It is usually carried out as a day case, though this depends on your individual treatment plan. Procedure time varies depending on the complexity of the reshaping required, and more detailed or revision cases may take longer than a primary procedure.
During an open rhinoplasty procedure, a small incision, usually only a few millimetres, is made across the columella, along with incisions inside the nostrils. This allows the skin covering the nose to be carefully lifted away from the underlying structure.
With the nasal framework fully visible, Mr Wilson can precisely reshape the cartilage and bone, which may include reducing a dorsal hump, refining the tip, correcting asymmetry, or placing cartilage grafts where additional support or structure is needed. The specific technique used, whether preservation or structural, will depend on your anatomy and goals.
Once reshaping is complete, the skin is redraped over the new structure and the incisions are closed with fine sutures. As the columellar incision is small and placed in a natural crease, any resulting open rhinoplasty scar is generally inconspicuous and tends to fade significantly over time. A splint is usually fitted to support the nose as it begins to heal.
Recovery
Open rhinoplasty recovery varies from patient to patient and depends on the extent of reshaping performed, individual healing and whether the procedure was combined with a septoplasty.
A splint is typically worn for around one week to support and protect the new shape. Swelling and bruising, particularly around the eyes, are common in the first one to two weeks and gradually subside.
Most patients return to work and light daily activities after one to two weeks, once initial swelling has settled, and the splint has been removed. Strenuous exercise, contact sports and activities that risk impact to the nose should be avoided for several weeks, as advised by Mr Wilson.
Residual swelling, particularly at the tip, can take considerably longer to resolve. Early results are often visible from around three months, with the final shape typically settling over 12 to 18 months as the tissues mature.
You will receive detailed aftercare instructions and attend scheduled follow-up appointments so Mr Wilson can monitor your healing and the developing result.
Risks & complications
As with any surgical procedure, open rhinoplasty carries certain risks. While complications are uncommon, it is important to understand the possible risks before deciding whether the procedure is right for you.
Potential risks and complications may include:
Mr Wilson will discuss the risks most relevant to your anatomy, procedure and treatment plan during your consultation so you can make an informed decision.
The cost of open rhinoplasty in Bristol varies depending on factors including the complexity of the reshaping required, whether cartilage grafting is needed, whether the procedure is combined with a septoplasty, and whether it is a primary or revision case. A personalised quote will be provided following your consultation, once Mr Wilson has assessed your anatomy and determined the most appropriate treatment plan.
Surgeon
Mr Paul Wilson is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon with qualifications in both medicine and dental surgery. With extensive training in plastic, reconstructive and maxillofacial surgery, he brings a high level of expertise to facial aesthetics, body contouring and complex reconstructive procedures.
Mr Wilson is a member of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe and the British Society of Rhinoplasty Surgeons and specialises in preservation rhinoplasty techniques and uses piezo-electric (ultrasonic) instrumentation to support precise, controlled reshaping and help optimise healing.
In both his NHS and private practice, Mr Wilson is known for his patient-focused approach, meticulous surgical planning, and commitment to achieving balanced, natural-looking results tailored to each individual.
As with any surgical procedure, open rhinoplasty carries risks, results vary from person to person, and it isn’t suitable for everyone. That’s why every patient has a full consultation with Mr Wilson to discuss suitability, expectations and options before proceeding.
FAQ
Open rhinoplasty is a surgical technique that involves making a small incision across the columella, in addition to incisions inside the nose, to lift the skin and give the surgeon full visibility of the underlying cartilage and bone. This allows for detailed, precise reshaping of the nose.
The main difference is access. Open rhinoplasty involves an additional external incision that enables the surgeon to have a complete view of the nasal structure. In contrast, closed rhinoplasty is performed entirely through incisions inside the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty is often used for more complex or detailed reshaping, while closed rhinoplasty may suit more limited changes.
The main external incision is made across the columella, the small strip of tissue between the nostrils, along with further incisions placed inside the nose.
The columellar incision is small and positioned within a natural crease. For most patients, the resulting scar fades considerably over time and becomes difficult to notice. Mr Wilson will discuss scar care and healing expectations specific to your skin type during consultation.
Most patients wear a splint for around a week and return to work and light activities within one to two weeks. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for several weeks. Residual swelling can take longer to settle, with the final result typically developing over 12 to 18 months.
Open rhinoplasty is often recommended for patients needing detailed tip reshaping, asymmetry correction, cartilage grafting, revision surgery, or combined functional correction of breathing difficulties. Suitability is assessed individually during consultation with Mr Wilson.
Schedule your consultation
Patients choose Paul Wilson Aesthetics for a combination of surgical expertise, honest guidance and a highly personalised approach to care. To get started, book a consultation with Mr Wilson at the Northwood Hospital, Bristol, or the London Welbeck Hospital, where he will assess your concerns, discuss your goals and determine whether open rhinoplasty is the most appropriate option for you.
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An abdominoplasty is about more than removing excess skin.
Where rectus diastasis is present, the abdominal wall can be tightened by bringing the separated tissues back towards the midline. This creates a firmer internal foundation and can help improve the shape and support of the abdomen.
The procedure may also include removing excess skin and fat, reshaping the abdominal contour and repositioning the belly button where appropriate.
Every abdominoplasty is planned around the patient’s individual anatomy, concerns and goals. Not every patient will require the same elements of surgery.
Images shared with patient consent. Individual suitability, recovery and results vary. A consultation is required to discuss the most appropriate treatment for you.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#Abdominoplasty #TummyTuck #RectusDiastasis #paulwilsonaesthetics
“Can surgery make me look like my filter?”
It’s a question that comes up more often than you might think.
Bringing a filtered or AI edited image to a consultation can be helpful because it shows me what you are drawn to. The difficulty is that these images often change several things at once, including the eyes, nose, brows, jawline and skin. They do not take account of real anatomy or how the face moves.
Surgery works with living tissue, so a filtered image cannot be treated as an exact blueprint. It can, however, be a useful starting point for an honest conversation about what you would like to change and what may be achieved safely and naturally.
The aim should be a result that still looks like you.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#plasticsurgery #AestheticSurgery #PatientEducation #paulwilsonaesthetics
A patient journey following VASER liposuction to the neck.
These photographs show the progression from careful pre-operative planning and marking, through the early post-operative stage, to three weeks after surgery.
VASER liposuction uses ultrasound-assisted technology to target and remove localised areas of fat with precision. This can make it a suitable option for carefully selected patients seeking greater definition beneath the chin and along the neck and jawline.
At three weeks, healing is still at an early stage and some swelling may remain. The result will continue to settle and refine over the coming weeks and months. Our patient is already very pleased with her progress and the outcome so far.
Thank you to our lovely patient for kindly allowing us to share her journey.
Individual suitability, recovery and results vary. A consultation is required to discuss the most appropriate treatment for you.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#VASERLiposuction #NeckLiposuction #liposuction #PatientJourney #PaulWilsonAesthetics
A heartfelt patient review, shared in her own words. ✨
At just three days post-op, our patient describes the early changes she could already see, how emotional the experience felt and the care she received at Northwood Hospital.❤️🏥
Swipe to read her full review.
Recovery and results are individual, and this patient is still at a very early stage with swelling yet to settle.
Shared with our patient’s kind permission.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#PatientReview #Northwood_hospital #PaulWilsonAesthetics #Vaser
Three years on from breast reduction surgery ✨
Our patient has kindly allowed us to share her journey and these photographs, showing how she feels today following her procedure. It is wonderful to see her looking so happy and confident.
Breast reduction surgery can help alleviate the physical discomfort associated with disproportionately large breasts, while creating a shape that feels more comfortable and in proportion.
Thank you to our patient for allowing us to share her experience.
Every patient and outcome is individual. A full consultation is required to discuss suitability, potential risks and expected results.
Shared with our patient’s kind permission.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#BreastReduction #breastsurgery #patientjourney #paulwilsonaesthetics
A very enjoyable day at the joint BAAPS & ESAPS 2026 Meeting in London! 🇬🇧
These meetings are always a valuable opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and catch up with colleagues and industry partners.
It was good to spend time with the teams from VASER, MACOM and Silimed, as well as catching up with a fellow consultant friend from Truro, Cornwall.
Looking forward to the rest of the scientific programme over the next couple of days! 🩺✨
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeons #paulwilsonaesthetics
We do not always have the opportunity to capture the first time a patient sees the result of their surgery, but when we do, it can be incredibly special.
This patient underwent forehead reduction surgery, and this was the moment she saw her new hairline for the first time. The happiness in her reaction says everything.
Moments like this remind us that surgery can mean far more to a patient than the physical change alone.
This was an early postoperative reveal and the patients healing continued for her over the following months.
Shared with our patient’s kind permission.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#hairlinelowering #foreheadreduction
#patientjourney
#paulwilsonaesthetics
Not every question is easy to ask.
Some can feel personal, awkward or even a little embarrassing, but they are often the questions that matter most.
A few honest answers to things patients sometimes hesitate to say out loud.
There is no such thing as the wrong question in a consultation. It is important to understand what surgery involves, what recovery may really be like and how it could affect your everyday life.
Clear, straightforward answers allow patients to consider their options properly and make decisions in their own time.
If you are considering surgery but are not yet ready for an in-person appointment, we also offer introductory virtual consultations. This can be a helpful first step and an opportunity to talk through your initial questions.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#patienteducation #plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #paulwilsonaesthetics
One result, seen from different angles.
With septo-rhinoplasty, it is important to consider how the nose sits within the whole face, not only how it looks from the side.
In this case, surgery addressed the dorsal hump and tip projection while maintaining a result that remained in keeping with the patient’s natural features.
The profile shows the change most clearly, while the oblique views demonstrate how the new shape complements this lovely patient’s natural features.
Swipe to see the result from each angle.
Photos used with patients kind consent.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#rhinoplasty #septorhinoplasty #septoplasty #paulwilsonaesthetics
Weight loss affects every body differently.
For some people, the biggest change is around the face and neck. For others, it may be the upper arms, breasts, abdomen or thighs. Sometimes it is one area; sometimes several.
Surgery after significant weight loss is never one-size-fits-all. Depending on your anatomy and concerns, options may include a facelift and neck lift, brachioplasty, thigh lift, abdominoplasty or breast surgery. VASER may also be considered for targeted body contouring where appropriate.
The aim is to address the changes that weight loss can leave behind and create a treatment plan that feels right for you.
Swipe through to explore some of the areas that can be affected.
All photos used with patients kind consent.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#surgeryafterweightloss #weightlosssuccess #glp1 #weightlosssurgery #paulwilsonaesthetics
This lovely 30-year-old patient came to see me hoping to move from an AA cup towards natural B/C cup proportions.
Her priority was to add shape and volume while keeping the result balanced with her slim frame.
We used Vectra 3D imaging during the planning process and selected 295cc high-profile Silimed True Texture Natural-Biodiesign implants.
The photographs show her before surgery and at 12 months, once the implants had settled and the result had matured.
Implant selection is about much more than volume alone. Chest width, existing breast tissue, body proportions and the patient’s preferred look all need to be considered carefully.
Every patient and every result is different. A consultation is needed to discuss what may be suitable for you.
Photos used with patients kind consent.
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#BreastAugmentation #BreastImplants #PaulWilsonAesthetics
Thinking about breast augmentation? Your consultation with Mr Paul Wilson is the first step.
Mr Wilson will talk you through your goals, expectations and the options available to you. Every patient’s breast anatomy is different, so the choice of implant needs to be tailored to your individual shape, proportions and desired result. You will have the opportunity to discuss different implant types, sizes and profiles, as well as what to expect from surgery and recovery.
Vectra 3D imaging will also be used during your consultation to help visualise how different implant sizes and shapes may look on your individual frame. It’s a useful tool for discussing your options and ensuring your treatment plan is tailored to your anatomy and goals.
It’s also a chance to ask questions, understand your options and feel fully informed before making any decision—there’s no pressure to decide on the day.
To book a consultation, please contact us using the details below:
📍 Northwood Hospital, Bristol
📍 The London Welbeck Hospital
☎️ Office: 0117 332 1585
📱 Call or WhatsApp: 07414 163133
✉️ info@paulwilsonaesthetics.co.uk
#breastaugmentation #paulwilsonaesthetics #northwoodhospital #londonwelbeckhospital
