Septorhinoplasty

The surgical techniques for septorhinoplasty

There isn’t just one way to operate. The choice of technique depends on how severe the deviation is, the state of your septum and the aesthetic changes you’re after. Your surgeon settles on the approach that best suits your anatomy.

The open approach

Here, the surgeon makes a small incision on the columella, the thin strip of skin between the two nostrils. That gives a full view of the structures inside the nose. It’s the approach of choice for complex cases: major septal corrections, cartilage grafts, reconstructions. The scar, tucked into a natural fold, becomes almost invisible within a few months.

The closed approach

This time, every incision is made inside the nostrils. It’s the one surgeons reach for with mild to moderate corrections. There is no visible scar and, as a rule, less swelling afterwards. Recovery is often quicker, which appeals to patients whose septal correction stays modest.

Recent advances

Nose surgery has come a long way. Autologous cartilage grafts (taken from your own body) reinforce weakened structures without anything foreign. So-called preservation techniques aim to keep as much of your original tissue as possible, which lowers the risk of complications. And minimally invasive methods, with finer incisions, speed up recovery.

A little anatomy

The nose combines bone, in its upper part, and cartilage, lower down. The nasal septum divides the two nostrils. When it deviates, it narrows one side and throws the airflow off balance. Published work reports anywhere from 26% to 97% of cases depending on the population and how it’s measured (Alghamdi et al., 2022). Put another way, a crooked septum is almost the norm.

The aim of a septorhinoplasty is twofold: straighten what’s deviated inside, and reshape the outside. The surgeon removes or repositions the deviated parts of the septum, then adjusts bone and cartilage for a balanced profile. It’s this double demand, to breathe and to please, that calls for real expertise.

What the results show

The published figures are reassuring. Across 55 patients followed in Turkey, the ROE satisfaction score rose on average from 46 to 79 out of 100 after surgery (Kemal et al., 2022). A UK study of around a hundred patients, with an average follow-up of three years, reported an average ROE score of 73%: 75% of those operated on were happy with the result, and 83% would have the operation again without hesitation (Biggs et al., 2015).

These findings confirm something simple: done well, a septorhinoplasty improves breathing and, for most patients, the way you feel about your own nose.

The risks, plainly

Like any surgery, a septorhinoplasty carries risks worth knowing before you go ahead. The largest study available, covering 175842 patients, found a revision surgery rate of 3.3% on average (Spataro et al., 2016). It drops to 3.1% for a first operation and climbs to 11% for a revision, a reminder that a second septorhinoplasty is always trickier.

The most common complications are bleeding, infection (rare, thanks to strict hygiene protocols), temporary changes in sensation and bruising that can be slow to clear. At Body Expert, close follow-up means these are spotted early and dealt with quickly if needed.

To get a concrete idea of what recovery looks like, day by day, the recovery after a rhinoplasty follows the timeline set out above.

In summary

A septorhinoplasty sorts out two problems at once: a deviated nasal septum that gets in the way of your breathing, and a nose shape that doesn’t suit you. Rather than going through a functional septoplasty and then an aesthetic rhinoplasty, everything is treated in a single operation, under general anaesthetic, in one to three hours. Recovery then follows a predictable rhythm: splint off around day 7, bruising faded within a fortnight, the nose revealing itself over three to six months and the tip sometimes sharpening for up to a year.

Two approaches exist, open or closed, chosen according to how complex your case is, and modern preservation techniques favour your own tissue for a natural, lasting result. The clinical data are solid: high patient satisfaction, a clear improvement in breathing and a low revision rate for a first operation. On budget, having the operation in Istanbul means up to 70% savings compared with the UK, in a partner clinic selected for its facilities and with surgeons who specialise in nose surgery.

Then there’s peace of mind: English-speaking support from your first message to your last check-up, a dedicated assistant and a price set out in advance. Still unsure, or have questions about your particular case? Ask for your free quote within 24 hours, with no obligation, and talk it through directly with our team.

Sources and references

1. Alghamdi, F. S., et al. (2022). Nasal Septal Deviation: A Comprehensive Narrative Review. Cureus, 14(11), e31317.
2. Kemal, O., et al. (2022). Impact of Functional and Aesthetic Factors on Patient Satisfaction in Septorhinoplasty. Turkish Archives of Otorhinolaryngology, 60(1), 36-41.
3. Spataro, E., et al. (2016). Revision Rates and Risk Factors of 175842 Patients Undergoing Septorhinoplasty. JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery, 18(3), 212-219.
4. Biggs, T. C., et al. (2015). Patient reported outcome measures in septorhinoplasty surgery. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 97(1), 63-65.