Rhinoplasty reshapes the nose. The word combines Greek roots meaning “nose” and “moulded,” which explains why the procedure is commonly called a nose job.
Surgeons may alter the nasal bones, cartilage, skin, or septum to change appearance, improve breathing, repair an injury, or correct a birth defect. Cosmetic rhinoplasty focuses on proportions and shape, while reconstructive or functional rhinoplasty restores structure and airflow.
There are two broad surgical approaches: open rhinoplasty, which includes a small incision across the columella between the nostrils, and closed rhinoplasty, in which the incisions remain inside the nose. A procedure limited to correcting the nasal septum is called septoplasty, not rhinoplasty, although both operations may be performed together.
A common misconception is that rhinoplasty is purely cosmetic. In practice, many operations address breathing problems such as a deviated septum or collapsed nasal valves. Nonsurgical rhinoplasty uses injectable fillers to change the visible contour temporarily, but it does not reshape the underlying bone or cartilage and cannot reduce the nose's size.