Structural rhinoplasty rebuilds the nose with a stable cartilage framework to define the tip, support the airway and correct deviation. Dr Thomas Colson uses this approach at SKMC for thick skin, complex tips and revision cases.
Structural rhinoplasty rebuilds the architecture of the nose rather than simply reducing it. Dr Thomas Colson constructs a stable framework using cartilage grafts — taken from the septum or, when more support is needed, the rib — to define the tip, support the airway and correct deviation.
This is the approach of choice for patients requiring meaningful tip refinement, projection changes, correction of a crooked nose, or revision of a previous operation. It gives the surgeon precise control over the final shape.
Thick skin — common across Middle Eastern and many ethnic noses — needs strong underlying support to reveal definition. Without a robust cartilage framework the tip can look undefined or bulbous, which is why a structural approach is so often the right choice in the UAE.
Every structural rhinoplasty includes a functional assessment. A deviated septum (corrected by septoplasty) or enlarged turbinates (turbinate reduction) can be addressed in the same operation, so the rebuilt nose breathes as well as it looks. Where a clear medical indication for obstruction exists, this functional component may be eligible for Daman or Thiqa coverage within the SEHA network — confirmed individually at consultation.
Consultations and surgery with Dr Thomas Colson are performed exclusively at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) in Abu Dhabi, within the SEHA network. A pre-operative Crisalix 3D simulation lets patients preview the planned nasal profile before deciding.