Before and afters Want to see our results with previous patients?
The Procedure
The nose is the defining structural feature of the face. A change of only a millimetre or two in dorsal height, tip projection, or rotation alters the way the entire face is read. Rhinoplasty is, for this reason, among the most technically demanding procedures in plastic surgery — technical errors are highly visible and often difficult to correct. Dr Sparks’ surgical training was completed at Vancouver General Hospital, a major academic plastic surgery programme in Canada, where rhinoplasty — including structural, preservation, revision, and cleft nasal techniques — was a central focus. He attended the 2026 Dallas Rhinoplasty Conference, engaging directly with current international techniques. His rhinoplasty practice encompasses four distinct areas — explored in detail below:
- Cosmetic rhinoplasty — reshaping the nose to improve facial balance, proportion, and harmony while maintaining or enhancing long-term structural support and nasal function. The objective is never a generic ‘ideal’ nose imposed on every face — it is a nose that is congruent with your features, your ethnicity, your gender, and the proportions of the face it sits within.
- Functional rhinoplasty — restoring nasal airflow, structural support, and stability where anatomy is compromising comfortable nasal breathing. The nose is a precision airway: it conditions, humidifies, and filters every breath, and its function has a direct and measurable impact on sleep, exercise tolerance, and daytime energy.
- Revision rhinoplasty — surgery to correct the outcome of a previous nasal operation. Fundamentally different from primary rhinoplasty: scar tissue has replaced normal tissue planes, structural cartilage has often been removed, and support may be depleted or absent.
- Cleft rhinoplasty — structural reconstruction of one of the most complex deformities in facial surgery, built on dedicated cleft-team training at Vancouver General Hospital.
Suitability
You may be a suitable candidate if you have completed facial growth, are in stable general health, and hold realistic expectations of enhancement rather than wholesale change. Non-smoking status is strongly preferred. This procedure may not be appropriate where there are significant unmanaged medical conditions, active intranasal infection, or expectations not anchored in achievable outcomes. Honest assessment: rhinoplasty cannot give you another person’s nose, and it cannot exceed what your skin and cartilage will allow. Thick skin limits the tip definition achievable; thin skin reveals minor irregularities. Some asymmetry is present in every face. A small proportion of patients require revision surgery to address a residual concern.
Procedures In DetailThe full spectrum of rhinoplasty
A nose that belongs on your face — refined, balanced, and structurally sound
Primary cosmetic rhinoplasty reshapes the nose to improve facial balance, proportion, and harmony while maintaining — or actively enhancing — long-term structural support and nasal function. Structural rhinoplasty is Dr Sparks’ primary approach: rather than simply removing tissue, it reshapes and reinforces, preserving the support the nose needs over decades. Preservation techniques are used in selected primary cases with favourable anatomy and modest refinement goals. Both open and closed approaches are in his repertoire — the choice is anatomy-driven, not preference-driven.
Techniques
- Structural rhinoplasty — reshape and reinforce
- Preservation rhinoplasty in selected cases
- Open and closed approaches — anatomy-driven
- Dorsal refinement & hump reduction with spreader grafts
- Tip refinement by suture technique and grafting
- Osteotomies & conservative alar base modification
Treating the structural cause of nasal obstruction — not merely its symptoms
Functional rhinoplasty restores nasal airflow, structural support, and stability in patients whose anatomy is compromising comfortable nasal breathing. Causes addressed include deviated nasal septum, internal and external nasal valve collapse, turbinate hypertrophy, post-traumatic deformity, and over-resected prior rhinoplasty. Aesthetic considerations are integrated throughout, so functional correction is accompanied by a nose that is balanced and in keeping with your features. Functional rhinoplasty performed for clinically indicated nasal obstruction generally attracts Medicare rebates and may be covered by private health insurance depending on the procedures performed and your level of cover; the aesthetic component of a combined procedure is not covered.
Techniques
- Septoplasty — internal incisions, no external scar
- Spreader grafts — internal valve & mid-vault support
- Alar batten & rim grafts — external valve support
- Conservative turbinate reduction
- Combined functional & cosmetic procedures
Rebuilding the foundation before pursuing refinement
Revision rhinoplasty — surgery to correct the outcome of a previous nasal operation — is among the most complex procedures in facial plastic surgery. Scar tissue replaces supple tissue planes, structural cartilage has often been removed, and the support the nose relies upon may be depleted or absent. Dr Sparks has focused experience in revision rhinoplasty, developed through his Vancouver training where complex revision cases were central to a high-volume structural programme. Structure first, refinement second: cartilage grafts rebuild support and create the stable framework upon which aesthetic refinement can then be undertaken. Airway compromise from prior surgery is addressed with the same priority as aesthetic correction. A minimum of 12 months following the previous rhinoplasty is generally recommended before revision, so the plan is based on settled anatomy.
Approach
- Open approach — direct visualisation of scarred anatomy
- Structural cartilage reconstruction
- Graft sources: septal, ear, rib, and rib allograft
- Functional airway restoration with equal priority
- Minimum 12 months after prior surgery
Structural reconstruction built on dedicated cleft-team training
Cleft-related nasal deformity is among the most challenging presentations in facial surgery. A cleft of the lip and palate disrupts the symmetric development of the nose at its foundation: the nasal base, lower lateral cartilages, columella, and septum may all be affected, producing a complex three-dimensional deformity that is both aesthetic and functional. Dr Sparks gained significant, direct experience in tertiary cleft rhinoplasty during his training at Vancouver General Hospital — a programme with a comprehensive, dedicated multidisciplinary cleft team. Cleft rhinoplasty can produce a meaningful improvement in both appearance and function, but perfect symmetry is not an achievable goal — a degree of residual asymmetry is expected even after expert reconstruction, and timing is planned carefully around facial growth and the wider cleft care pathway.
Approach
- Open structural approach
- Alar base & nostril correction
- Tip cartilage repositioning & grafting
- Columellar lengthening
- Septal correction & airway reconstruction
- Coordinated with the wider cleft treating team
Planning Your Surgery
Rhinoplasty is a collaborative process. At consultation, Dr Sparks will discuss your goals in detail, review photographs, examine the structural anatomy of your nose — including dynamic examination of the nasal valves where breathing is a concern — and explain what is realistically achievable for your particular anatomy and skin.
GP referral. A referral from your general practitioner is required before booking surgery. Your GP plays an important role in confirming you are an appropriate candidate and in supporting your recovery.
Seven-day cooling-off period. In line with AHPRA guidelines, a minimum seven-day cooling-off period applies between your consultation and surgery.
Independent second opinion. You are encouraged to seek an independent second opinion from another appropriately qualified registered health practitioner before proceeding. Dr Sparks supports this and will assist with referrals on request.
Realistic expectations. All surgery has limits. Outcomes vary between individuals. No specific result can be guaranteed, and the information on this page is general — not a promise of any particular outcome.
Before & after photography. Selected before-and-after images of Dr Sparks’ patients are available for review during your in-person consultation, shown only with the patient’s specific written consent, in line with AHPRA’s advertising guidelines. Individual results vary — photographs of single patients are not predictive of the result you will achieve.
