Best nose surgeons in the UK

CHARLES EAST

East has always been a visionary – his Diamond Rhinoplasty, using ultrasonic tools to sculpt the nasal bones without breakage, was a game-changer – and now the President-Elect of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe is pushing boundaries once more. His Total Preservation Rhinoplasty retains the original ligaments, cartilage and structure of the nose, while removing a small strip running from the septum to underneath the hump – the end-result being the same nose, but smaller. ‘It simply drops down,’ enthuses the surgeon, who works alongside Lydia Badia, his wife and fellow rhinoplasty specialist. ‘It’s a very three-dimensional change.’ It also offers a more predictable outcome and less downtime than traditional surgery for younger patients – though the more mature can benefit, too. Contrary to common belief, East explains, the nose doesnt grow with age. Rather, it changes shape and becomes droopy, as the tissues and bone deteriorate. The solution? A hybrid technique, combining his ‘preservation’ philosophy with structural support to the tip, which ensures a neat-looking nose in years to come. Consultations, too, have undergone a change: initial meetings are held virtually while follow-ups take place at the gleaming Tempus Belgravia clinic. But the greatest transformation is in the faces of his patients: they appear somehow lighter, their noses sitting seamlessly within the framework of their features. ‘Five years ago, I couldn’t have achieved this result,’ he says. ‘It’s truly a revolution.’

Consultation, £200; preservation rhinoplasty, from £11,000 (rhinoplastylondon.co.uk).

DUNCAN ATHERTON (NEW ENTRY)

With a boundless passion for noses, this cosmetic and plastic surgeon splits his time between facial improvements at the Cadogan Clinic and complex NHS cases at Guy’s and St Thomas hospitals, where he is renowned for his cleft rhinoplasties. ‘I see some babies from just a few weeks old,’ he says, ‘but my responsibility to them lasts for a lifetime, and will involve surgery to the lip and palate to correct their speech, then to the jaw and eventually the nose once their growth is complete. Hearing a parent say how much confidence their child has gained as a result always gives me goosebumps.’ Just as noteworthy are his cosmetic rhinoplasties, which benefit from his reconstructive knowhow – and some whizzy tools. ‘The Piezo isn’t new, but it is shown to reduce swelling and enhance accuracy,’ says Atherton, who uses the ultrasound-powered drill to soften a distracting hump or refine a bridge. ‘It smooths the bone beautifully, like the world’s finest sandpaper.’ He also excels at the details: for example, making boxy tips more triangular – ‘It gives a more refined appearance’ – and finessing the internal structures (such as correcting a deviated septum to reduce breathing difficulties). Patients speak of his ability to make them feel more like themselves again: ‘After her rhinoplasty, I remember one woman saying, “This is the nose I was supposed to have.” And that made me happy. Ultimately, it’s about restoring quality of life – for every single patient.’