Updates & News

Living with a CSF leak
When she suddenly developed a constant nose drip, Smita Kotecha had no reason to think she had developed a cerebrospinal fluid leak – even when a colleague joked it could be fluid leaking from her brain.
I first noticed symptoms in December…

More than a common cold: causes of nasal obstruction in children
Many children will have nasal blockage and chronic cough and have tried medication but have never seen an ENT surgeon or similar who can examine their nose and determine the problem.
Leading London ENT surgeon Mr Annakan Navaratnam is one of…

Mr Annakan Navaratnam publishes paediatric sinonasal disease study
In March 2025, Mr Annakan Navaratnam and UK colleagues published a systematic review in International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology into how to better understand symptoms of children with nasal problems.
Paediatric sinonasal disease is…

Smoking and rhinoplasty: a risky combination for recovery
Smoking can significantly impact the success of your rhinoplasty surgery as it affects both the operation and the healing process. With an estimated 6 million smokers in the UK, this also means many patients contemplating nose reshaping surgery…

What are the causes of a pollybeak deformity?
A pollybeak deformity, also known as supra-tip fullness, is an undesirable side effect of a less-than-successful rhinoplasty procedure. It manifests as an unusual fullness above the nasal tip, affecting the desired nasal contour. The area above…

Study published into Cocaine-Induced Midline Destructive Lesions
Last year, Mr Annakan Navaratnam and colleagues published a multicentric study involving three London hospitals in The Laryngoscope, a peer-reviewed journal in the field of otolaryngology, entitled ‘The role of ANCA in the management of cocaine-induced…

Study published on triple-layer technique for nasal septal perforation repair
Mr Annakan Navaratnam and colleagues at the Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals, one of the UK's largest hospitals for ENT surgery, published an article in Facial Plastic Surgery & Aesthetic Medicine on surgical repair of nasal…

Your septal perforation repair questions answered
A septal perforation is a through-and-through hole in the nasal septum, the central partition of the nose.
"There are several potential causes of septal perforation," explains ENT surgeon Mr Annakan Navaratnam. "The main cause is previous…

Is it possible to make the nose smaller?
The nose is the central facet of the face, so a nasal structure not in harmony with your other facial features is often a source of insecurity. "A patient will often ask me if I can make the nose smaller or more in keeping with the rest of their…

Is that winter sniffle a cold or sinusitis?
Four common seasonal respiratory viruses are circulating in the UK this Winter, in what has been dubbed the 'quad-demic' by NHS leaders who have seen a sharp rise in hospital admissions for cases of flu, norovirus, respiratory syncytial virus…

Evaluating skin type and thickness in the rhinoplasty procedure
Rhinoplasty success depends on several factors, including the surgeon's skill, the procedure's complexity, and what happens during the healing process. The patient's unique nasal anatomy, particularly the type and thickness of their skin, is…

Annakan joins national NHS programme to improve ENT care
We're delighted to announce that Mr Annakan Navaratnam has been appointed as a national advisor for ENT with the NHS England improvement programme Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT). Alongside his private practice, Annakan is an ENT consultant…