Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery)

Rhinoplasty brings the shape of the nose into proportion with the rest of the face while protecting or improving the airway. At TurkeySurgery Group, nose surgery is planned by Dr. Sefa, an ear, nose and throat specialist who evaluates both aesthetic and functional aspects.

During the pre-operative consultation, the nasal bone and cartilage structure, skin thickness, septal deviation and breathing complaints are assessed together. Closed, open or ultrasonic (piezo) technique is chosen according to the patient's anatomy.

The surgical plan is made after an internal nasal exam and, when needed, a CT scan to assess the airway; for the external appearance, goals are discussed with the patient over photographs. When a piezo (ultrasonic) device is chosen for bone shaping, the surrounding tissue is exposed to less trauma; the choice of method, however, depends on the bone structure and the planned change. In patients with breathing complaints, septoplasty and turbinate work are included in the same session.

There is no single correct rhinoplasty technique; the choice depends on the change being planned. The closed technique suits limited bridge corrections, while the open technique suits noses needing significant tip reshaping or revision. Piezo devices suit bone-focused plans, and septorhinoplasty is added when breathing is also a concern.

The techniques are not mutually exclusive; in a septorhinoplasty performed with the open technique, the bone can still be shaped with piezo. Read the table below not as a checklist to choose from, but as a summary of the topics you will discuss at the examination in Istanbul.

In piezo rhinoplasty, the nasal bone is cut and smoothed with fine ultrasonically vibrating tips instead of a hammer and chisel. These tips act only on bone and other hard tissue, sparing soft tissue such as blood vessels, muscle, and mucosa. The result is less trauma to surrounding tissue, lighter bruising in most patients, and more controlled bone shaping.

In classic osteotomy, the bone is broken with a chisel and repositioned; in experienced hands this is a reliable method, but the fracture line cannot always be fully predicted and small surrounding vessels can be injured. The piezo device allows the bone to be thinned with millimeter precision, closes any open-roof look that can appear on the bridge after a hump is removed, and smooths the bone edges. Because the bone must be seen directly, piezo is mostly used with the open technique.

Piezo is not necessary for everyone: in noses with thin bone, where only tip work is planned, or where there is no hump, it makes no clear difference from the classic method. Our advice to patients in Istanbul looking into ultrasonic rhinoplasty is to ask not about the device, but about what change is planned for their own nose; the technique is then determined at the examination according to that plan.

The goal in male rhinoplasty is not to shrink the nose, but to create a straight, strong profile that fits the face's masculine lines. The bridge is left straight rather than slightly concave, the tip is not lifted much, and projection is preserved. Because an overly narrowed or upturned nose looks artificial on a male face, changes are planned conservatively.

Anatomical differences affect the plan. In men the nasal skin is usually thicker and richer in oil glands, which means fine cartilage changes at the tip show less from the outside and swelling lasts longer. Because the bone structure is wider, hump removal and narrowing require more bone work; piezo is therefore often chosen for male patients. The angle between the tip and the upper lip is kept narrower in men, generally around 90–95 degrees.

Most male patients want it not to be obvious that they have had surgery. For this reason, instead of removing the hump entirely, the profile is straightened, the transition between the nasal root and the forehead is preserved, and the tip is not narrowed noticeably. Because a deviated septum from sports injuries is a common accompanying finding in men, it is corrected in the same session.

A stay of about 7 days in Istanbul is generally recommended for rhinoplasty, covering the examination and tests, the surgery, one night in the hospital, and the splint-removal check 6–7 days later. Once the splint is off, the nose is taped, and your surgeon clears you, you can fly home that day or the next; later check-ups continue remotely.

The plan can shift by a day depending on flight times and test results; accommodation and transfers are arranged by the coordination team around this schedule. The outline below summarizes a typical rhinoplasty week.

• Arrival day — Airport pickup and check-in; an endoscopic nasal exam, photographs, blood tests, and the anesthesia consultation the same day or the next morning.
• Surgery day — Hospital admission in the morning, a 2–3 hour operation; overnight observation in the hospital, sleeping with the head elevated, and cold compresses.
• Day 1 after surgery — Discharge after a dressing check and medication plan; resting at the hotel, plenty of fluids, and short walks.
• Days 2–5 — Bruising and swelling pass their most noticeable days and begin to fade; resting at the hotel, light walking, and an interim check if needed.
• Days 6–7 — The splint and internal packing are removed, sutures are taken out, and the nose is taped; taping is demonstrated and clearance to fly is given.
• After the splint comes off — The return flight, with the nose taped, the same evening or the next day; because cabin air is dry, a saline spray is used and carrying heavy luggage is avoided.
• After returning home — Remote check-ups by photograph; taping, massage, and the course of swelling are monitored through the coordination team.

Revision rhinoplasty comes into consideration, at the earliest, 12 months after the first surgery, in patients with an ongoing shape or breathing problem. This interval is needed for swelling to fully resolve and tissue to soften; deciding earlier risks mistaking temporary swelling for a permanent problem. The decision is made at the examination, with the previous operative report and photographs.

Situations that call for revision mostly fall under the headings below. Small irregularities on the bridge can sometimes be managed with non-surgical filler, while a persistent breathing problem or a pronounced shape deformity requires surgery.

The most important difference in revision surgery is a shortage of tissue. Because cartilage removed in the first operation cannot be put back, remaining septal cartilage, ear cartilage, or, for major reconstructions, rib cartilage can be used for support. Because the work is done within scar tissue, surgery takes longer, swelling takes longer to subside, and the result settles at 12–18 months. We ask patients planning revision rhinoplasty in Istanbul to bring the report from their previous surgery and any earlier photographs.

• A small bump, dip, or irregularity on the bridge that can be felt by hand or seen in certain light.
• The tip dropping over time, staying excessively upturned, or showing marked asymmetry.
• A collapsed bridge or a pinched-looking tip due to too much bone or cartilage having been removed.
• Ongoing nasal blockage due to valve narrowing or the septum deviating again.
• Grafts shifting position or becoming visible under thinned skin.

The cost of rhinoplasty is mainly set by the scope and technique of the surgery, added functional work such as the septum or turbinates, whether it is a first surgery or a revision, hospital and anesthesia conditions, and accommodation, transfers, and the follow-up schedule. These combine differently for each patient, so a personalized plan is prepared rather than one price.

Technique and scope are the first determinant: a tip plasty focused only on the tip is not the same procedure, in time or materials, as an open septorhinoplasty that includes bone shaping, septal correction, and a cartilage graft. Rib or ear cartilage harvesting that may be needed in revision surgery, length of hospital stay, and general anesthesia make up the other items.

Under Turkey's regulation on promotional and informational activities in health services, our website does not publish prices or promotional offers; the cost is communicated through a written plan covering every item after the examination. This plan lists the surgery, anesthesia, hospital, accommodation, transfers, and follow-up schedule separately, so you can see clearly what is included before coming to Istanbul. We recommend asking how the plan addresses any additional step that might be decided on during surgery, such as a graft.