For many people, rhinoplasty is not purely a cosmetic decision.
Alongside aesthetic reasons, people often have genuine functional concerns, such as difficulty breathing through one nostril, a deviated septum, or structural issues following an injury.
When rhinoplasty goes wrong, the consequences are both visible and, in many cases, physically felt.
Asymmetry, scarring, breathing difficulties that were not present before the procedure, or a result so different from what was discussed that the person is afraid to appear in photographs, these are not minor inconveniences.
They affect daily life, confidence, and in some cases, physical health.
What makes rhinoplasty claims legally distinct is that the practitioner’s obligations around informed consent are particularly demanding.
The Medical Council of Ireland’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics requires a doctor to explain not only the risks of a procedure but the realistic range of outcomes, including the fact that rhinoplasty results can be unpredictable and that revision surgery may not fully correct an unsatisfactory result.
If you were not given that information before your surgery, or if the surgical technique fell below the standard of a competent surgeon in that speciality, our solicitors can advise you on whether a claim is open to you.
Rhinoplasty surgical error what can go wrong?
Rhinoplasty is a complicated and delicate nasal surgery with aesthetic and functional aspects that take years of surgical experience to master. Some of the most common problems that arise after rhinoplasty are:
1. Polly Beak Deformity: Cartilaginous or Soft Tissue
A natural-looking nose has a slight depression as the nose transitions from the bridge to the tip.
In the case of the Polly beak deformity, however, this bridge area above the tip is too high, giving the nose an appearance like a parrot’s beak.
Three complications during rhinoplasty can lead to this problem, one of the most commonly seen after rhinoplasty surgery.
2. Cartilaginous Polly Beak Deformity
A cartilaginous Polly beak deformity occurs when too much cartilage is left after surgery, and revision rhinoplasty to correct this would involve shaving down the extra cartilage.
3. Soft tissue Polly Beak Deformity
A soft tissue Polly beak deformity occurs when a surgeon removes too much soft tissue on a patient with thick skin so the skin doesn’t properly contract and flatten out, causing excessive scar tissue to form in the area.
4. Lack of Nose Tip Support
Where the original surgeon fails to leave enough support for the tip of the nose, and it droops over time, making the area above the tip appear to project too far. Revision rhinoplasty to address the problem requires the surgeon to reconstruct the nasal tip so it has adequate support.
Profile deformity: persistent bump or scooped-out bridge
The Middle Vault, also known as the Inverted V Deformity, occurs when a bump is removed from the central nose, but inadequate support is provided.
The centre of the nose collapses, both inhibiting breathing and making the nasal bones visible to the naked eye in the shape of an inverted V.
Breathing will also be inhibited when the removal of a bump causes the collapse of the narrowest area inside the nose, the internal nasal valve.
As with a scooped-out bridge, a revision rhinoplasty to address a collapsed central nose or internal valve collapse involves rebuilding the missing area with the patient’s cartilage.
1. Irregular Bridge
Other general aesthetic concerns relating to the bridge can occur after a rhinoplasty procedure.
The central nose forms the transition from the bridge to the tip and must be in proper proportion to blend the two seamlessly in an aesthetically harmonious manner.
2. Deviated Nose Issues after Surgery
A deviated nose has a twist in the upper, middle, or tip. It is one of the most challenging problems to address through rhinoplasty and can persist after an original rhinoplasty or a revision rhinoplasty.
It can even be introduced through a rhinoplasty or revision rhinoplasty procedure.
3. Over-projected tip
One of the most common mistakes seen following rhinoplasty is the over-projected tip. Once a prominent bump is removed, patients often discover that the tip of the nose projects too far from the face.
4. Tip Bossae (knuckling)
If the two projecting points of cartilage that support the nose tip are too aggressively removed, they will lose their springy structure and the remaining cartilage will begin to bend and twist. This causes a problem called bossae or knuckling, where the cartilage turns upon itself and the weakest points at the joints of the cartilage form very noticeable bumps or knuckles.
5. Asymmetric tip
Rhinoplasty involves two procedures, one to the right side of the nose and one to the left. In every stage of the surgery, great attention must be paid to symmetry.
The cartilage on both sides of the nose tip must be removed to the same degree, or an asymmetric tip will result.
Asymmetries may also occur due to unequal scarring during the healing process and not reveal themselves until months or even years later.
Rhinoplasty Terms
The terms below briefly describe the types of Rhinoplasty offered in Ireland. Rhinoplasty: a surgery that changes the noses form (or shape) and function (breathing).
1. Functional Rhinoplasty
To improve or restore breathing function through the nose. This surgery may also change the shape of the nose.
2. Cosmetic Rhinoplasty
To change the shape of the nose for aesthetic reasons.
3. Open Approach Rhinoplasty
This leaves an external scar on the columella but gives the advantage of improved access, which may be necessary in some cases.
4. Closed Approach Rhinoplasty:
Operation through nares (nose openings) with no external scars.
5. Nose Tip Plasty
Usually, a cosmetic surgery procedure is used to modify the shape of the tip of the nose.
6. Nasal Valve Surgery
To improve breathing when the nasal valves are dysfunctional or compromised.
7. Paediatric Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty in a child under eighteen years of age is usually done to restore or improve the functionality of the breathing process through the nose.
8. Nasal bone fractures
Injury to nasal bones may necessitate formal rhinoplasty if not addressed adequately in time.
9. Acute Septal cartilage fractures
Nose injury leading to nasal cartilage dislocation or fracture. Septoplasty may be required if nasal obstruction persists. This is routinely performed after 6-12 months (interval septoplasty), allowing the scar tissues to mature and allowing predictable results after correction.
10. Septoplasty
Surgery for correction of nasal blockage caused by bent septal cartilage. The Septum is the party wall that divides the nose into the right and left cavities.
The claim process
1. Consult our Rhinoplasty Surgical Error Solicitors
You should speak to a rhinoplasty surgical error Solicitors as soon as possible if you think you were not given an adequate or appropriate level of medical care, resulting in an injury or illness.
2. We obtain your medical records
After the consultation with your rhinoplasty surgical error solicitor, he/she will request access to your medical records and engage an independent medical expert to assess your records.
The purpose of engaging an independent expert is to establish whether there was any negligence on the part of the medical profession.
3. The medical negligence litigation process
Where the independent medical expert is of the professional opinion that medical negligence did occur, as you instructed, your solicitor will begin issuing legal proceedings in Court against the medical professional and/or hospital.
Statute of Limitation
The legal time limit to make a rhinoplasty surgical error claim is two years from the date of injury or date of knowledge that the injury or illness resulted from medical negligence.
For children/minors, the time limit expires two years after their 18th birthday. You can contact a solicitor to talk about your case and inform you about the statute of limitations applicable to your case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications should a rhinoplasty surgeon in Ireland have?
In Ireland, a surgeon performing rhinoplasty should be registered with the Medical Council of Ireland and hold specialist registration in either plastic surgery or otolaryngology (ENT).
The Medical Council’s online register at medicalcouncil.ie allows patients to check whether a practitioner holds specialist registration and in which speciality.
A practitioner who is not registered with the Medical Council or who performs rhinoplasty outside their area of specialist competence may face a more straightforward claim if harm results, as the Medical Council’s own guidance requires doctors to work only within their sphere of professional competence.
What is informed consent and why does it matter in a rhinoplasty claim?
Informed consent means that, before any surgical procedure, the surgeon must explain the material risks, the realistic expectations for the outcome, and the available alternatives.
In rhinoplasty, this is particularly important because the outcome is partly subjective and can be difficult to predict exactly.
If a surgeon did not explain that the final result might differ from what was discussed, or did not disclose a known risk that subsequently arose, such as difficulty breathing, asymmetry, or scarring, a claim based on inadequate informed consent may be available independently of any surgical error.
The Medical Council of Ireland’s Guide to Professional Conduct and Ethics sets out the consent standard that all registered practitioners must meet.
What is the difference between a functional and cosmetic rhinoplasty error?
A functional rhinoplasty addresses structural issues, such as a deviated septum or nasal obstruction, that affect breathing.
A cosmetic rhinoplasty addresses the appearance of the nose. Many rhinoplasty procedures involve both elements.
The legal distinction matters because a functional rhinoplasty is more likely to be classified as a medical procedure in which the Dunne test standard of the reasonably careful doctor in that speciality is applied directly.
A purely cosmetic rhinoplasty may involve both medical negligence and contract law elements.
In practice, our solicitors assess the specifics of your procedure before advising which legal basis applies.
Can I make a rhinoplasty claim against a clinic rather than an individual surgeon?
Yes. If a rhinoplasty was performed at a private clinic, the clinic itself may be liable in addition to or instead of the individual surgeon, depending on the employment relationship.
Clinics have their own duties to ensure that only appropriately qualified practitioners operate on their patients, that facilities meet required standards, and that post-operative care is adequate.
Where a clinic failed in any of these respects, and that failure contributed to your injury, the clinic may bear liability alongside any claim against the individual practitioner.
How long do I have to bring a rhinoplasty surgical error claim in Ireland?
The general limitation period for personal injury claims in Ireland is two years from the date of knowledge under the Statute of Limitations (Amendment) Act 1991.
For rhinoplasty claims, the date of knowledge is typically the date you first knew, or ought reasonably to have known, that the outcome of your surgery was caused by error or negligence rather than a recognised risk of the procedure.
Where the harm became apparent gradually, for example, breathing difficulties that worsened over time after surgery, the date of knowledge may be later than the date of the procedure itself.
It is important to seek legal advice promptly, however, as the limitation period can expire before a claimant realises.
