The term rhinoplasty means "nose molding" or "nose forming," a procedure in plastic surgery in which the structure of the nose is changed. The change can be made by adding or removing bone or cartilage, grafting tissue from another part of the body, or implanting synthetic material to alter the shape of the nose. This procedure is often called a "nose job."

Rhinoplasty is most often performed for cosmetic reasons. A nose that is too large, crooked, misshapen, malformed at birth, or deformed by an injury can be given a more pleasing appearance. If breathing is impaired due to the form of the nose or to an injury, it can often be improved with rhinoplasty.

The best candidates for rhinoplasty are those with relatively minor deformities. Nasal anatomy (structure) and proportions (size) are quite varied and the final look of any rhinoplasty will be a combination of the...