DISCLAIMER: The outcomes shown are only relevant for this patient and do not necessarily reflect the results other patients may experience, as results may vary due to many factors including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise.
What This Gallery Shows
Cases in this gallery represent a range of rhinoplasty procedures performed by Dr Turner across different presenting concerns and approaches, including:
- Cosmetic rhinoplasty — addressing the shape, size, or proportion of the nose
- Functional rhinoplasty — correcting structural issues that affect nasal airflow and breathing
- Revision rhinoplasty — addressing concerns following a previous rhinoplasty procedure
- Combined cosmetic and functional procedures — where both aesthetic and breathing concerns are being addressed together
The gallery includes results from open and closed rhinoplasty approaches, tip refinements, dorsal hump reduction, septal correction, and cases involving cartilage grafting. Each case is individual — the technique used depends on the patient’s specific anatomy and what they are hoping to address.
Understanding Rhinoplasty Results — Why the Timeline Matters
Rhinoplasty has the longest result timeline of any procedure in Dr Turner’s practice. This is important context when viewing any before and after gallery — including this one.
After photos in this gallery are taken at a minimum of twelve months post-surgery. This is deliberate. Research consistently shows that approximately two-thirds of nasal swelling resolves by one month, 95% by six months, and the remainder over the following months. The nose you see at cast removal — or even at three months — is not the final result.
General healing milestones:
- Days 1–7: External splint and any sutures in place; bruising and swelling peak around days 2–3
- Week 1–2: Splint removed; the nose is swollen and not representative of the final shape
- 1–3 months: Majority of bruising resolved; most patients comfortable in social settings; swelling still present
- 3–6 months: Substantial improvement visible; approximately 95% of swelling resolved by month 6
- 12 months: Final result for most patients with average skin thickness
- Up to 18 months: Patients with thicker nasal skin — where swelling resolves more slowly — may not see their complete result until this point
Skin thickness is one of the most significant factors affecting the timeline. Thinner skin shows earlier definition; thicker skin requires more patience but can also conceal minor imperfections better during the healing phase. Dr Turner discusses skin thickness and its implications at consultation.
Functional Rhinoplasty and Medicare
Where rhinoplasty is performed primarily to address a structural breathing problem — such as a deviated septum, collapsed internal or external valves, or a nasal obstruction — it may qualify for a Medicare rebate. Functional rhinoplasty cases where a medical indication is documented can attract MBS item numbers, and private health insurance may also contribute to hospital and anaesthetic costs.
Eligibility depends on the clinical assessment. Patients seeking consultation for breathing-related nasal concerns should ensure their GP referral documents the relevant symptoms. Dr Turner assesses both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the nose at consultation and can advise on whether a functional indication may meet the criteria for a rebate.
Approaches Used
Dr Turner performs both open and closed rhinoplasty depending on the degree of change required and the patient’s anatomy.
Open rhinoplasty involves a small incision across the columella (the strip of tissue between the nostrils) in addition to incisions inside the nose. This provides direct access to the nasal framework and is used for cases requiring significant structural change, cartilage grafting, or tip work.
Closed rhinoplasty uses incisions inside the nostrils only, leaving no external scar. It is suited to cases involving more limited modifications where direct access to the framework is not required.
The approach is determined by what needs to be achieved surgically, not by patient preference alone. Dr Turner explains his reasoning at consultation.
Digital Imaging at Consultation
Dr Turner uses Vectra 3D imaging during consultation to help patients visualise potential changes before surgery is discussed in detail. This creates a digital simulation — not a guarantee of outcome — based on the patient’s own photographs. It can be a useful tool for communication and for developing realistic expectations, but it is explicitly not a preview of what the surgical result will look like.
Sydney Consultations — Bondi Junction and Manly
Dr Turner consults at two Sydney locations:
Bondi Junction — Eastern Suburbs. Surgery at Bondi Junction Private Hospital. Manly — Suite 504, Level 5, 39 East Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095. Surgery at Delmar Private Hospital, Dee Why.
Patients also consult from Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. All surgery is performed in Sydney regardless of where the initial consultation takes place.
The Consultation Process
A GP referral is required before your first consultation with Dr Turner. Under AHPRA regulations governing cosmetic surgery in Australia, rhinoplasty requires a minimum of two consultations, a psychological evaluation, and a mandatory cooling-off period before surgery can be scheduled.
During the initial consultation, Dr Turner will:
- Assess your nasal anatomy, bone and cartilage structure, skin thickness, and any functional concerns
- Discuss the approach and techniques most suited to your anatomy and goals
- Use Vectra 3D imaging to support the discussion of potential changes
- Explain the expected recovery timeline in detail, including what is normal at each stage
- Outline relevant risks, complications, and realistic variation in outcomes
- Advise whether your circumstances may meet the criteria for a Medicare rebate if a functional indication is present
Patients who have previously had rhinoplasty elsewhere and are considering revision surgery are assessed differently — the existing framework, scar tissue, and previous technique all influence what is possible and what approach is appropriate.
About Dr Scott J Turner
Dr Scott J Turner is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon (FRACS) with a particular focus on facial surgery, including rhinoplasty. He holds Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Plastic Surgery and is registered with AHPRA (MED0001654827). Dr Turner consults from Bondi Junction and Manly in Sydney, and from consulting clinics in Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the after photos taken at twelve months rather than earlier?
Rhinoplasty has the longest healing timeline of any procedure. Swelling resolves gradually — approximately two-thirds by one month, 95% by six months, and the remainder over the following months. For patients with thicker nasal skin, full resolution can take up to eighteen months. Photos taken earlier than twelve months are not representative of the final result and can create misleading expectations. All after photos in this gallery are taken at twelve months minimum.
Can I use the photos to predict what my own result will look like?
No. Gallery photos can help you understand the range of outcomes patients have experienced and give you a starting point for consultation conversations. They cannot predict your result — which depends on your individual nasal anatomy, skin thickness, the specific concern being addressed, the technique used, and how you heal. Dr Turner uses Vectra 3D imaging during consultation to support a more personalised discussion.
What rhinoplasty procedures does Dr Turner perform?
Dr Turner performs cosmetic rhinoplasty, functional rhinoplasty, and revision rhinoplasty. These may be performed independently or in combination where both aesthetic and functional concerns are present. The approach — open or closed — is determined by what needs to be achieved surgically and the individual’s anatomy.
Can rhinoplasty qualify for a Medicare rebate?
Where rhinoplasty is performed to address a structural breathing problem — such as a deviated septum or collapsed nasal valves — with a documented functional indication, it may qualify for a Medicare rebate. Eligibility is assessed at consultation. A GP referral that documents the relevant breathing symptoms is important for this process.
What is involved in consultation before rhinoplasty surgery in Australia?
A GP referral is required before your first appointment. Under current AHPRA regulations, rhinoplasty requires a minimum of two consultations with Dr Turner, a psychological evaluation, and a mandatory cooling-off period before surgery can be scheduled. Dr Turner consults from Bondi Junction and Manly. All surgery is performed in Sydney.
Take the Next Step
If you are researching rhinoplasty in Sydney, a consultation with Dr Turner is the appropriate starting point. He consults from Bondi Junction in the Eastern Suburbs and Manly on the Northern Beaches.
Contact us to request a consultation or ask a question about the process. A GP referral is required for your first appointment. If you do not have a current referral, your GP can provide one after a brief discussion about your concerns.
