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Septorhinoplasty: What It Is, Who Needs It, How It Is Performed and Recovery

Sep 17
6 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Key takeaways

  • Septorhinoplasty = septoplasty (straightening the septum for breathing) + rhinoplasty (reshaping the nose) in a single operation.

  • Typical signs you may need it: blocked nasal breathing, mouth breathing, poor sleep and snoring, dry mouth, post-nasal drip or frequent upper airway infections, together with a nose shape that bothers you.

  • It can be performed on men and women once facial growth is complete, generally from about 17 in women and 18 in men.

  • Surgery usually takes 2–3 hours; the splint is removed after a week, and final refinement continues for about a year.

What does septorhinoplasty mean?

Nasal problems can be functional (affecting breathing), aesthetic (affecting appearance) or both. Straightening bent cartilage or bone that blocks breathing is called septoplasty. Reshaping the nose is rhinoplasty. When both are performed at the same time, the operation is called septorhinoplasty. Because a crooked outer nose is usually linked to a crooked septum inside, combining them is often essential for a straight, well-breathing result. Compare the two in rhinoplasty vs septoplasty.

Signs you may need septorhinoplasty

  • Difficulty breathing through the nose and breathing with the mouth open

  • Poor-quality sleep, waking up tired

  • Snoring

  • Dry mouth during the day

  • Post-nasal drip

  • A tendency to upper respiratory infections

  • A crooked, humped, droopy or asymmetric nose

Who can have it?

People with congenital (genetic) nasal deformities that affect breathing, and those whose breathing and shape were affected by trauma, are typical candidates. Men and women are equally suitable. Surgery is not recommended until body and facial growth is complete, usually around 18 for men and 17 for women; functional surgery for severe obstruction can occasionally be considered earlier. Good general health and realistic expectations are required. See rhinoplasty age limits.

How is septorhinoplasty performed?

  1. Assessment: examination with an endoscope, photographs, analysis and simulation; see nasal analysis before rhinoplasty.

  2. Anaesthesia: general anaesthesia.

  3. Approach: closed (incisions inside the nostrils, no external scar) or open (small incision across the columella), chosen according to complexity.

  4. Septal correction: deviated cartilage and bone are straightened or removed, preserving a strong L-shaped support; removed cartilage is often reused as grafts.

  5. Turbinates and valves: enlarged turbinates are reduced and weak valves supported with spreader grafts when needed.

  6. Rhinoplasty: hump reduction, bone repositioning (preferably with ultrasonic piezo instruments), tip refinement and alignment.

  7. Closure and splints: soft internal silicone splints and an external splint support the nose.

How long does it take?

Usually 2–3 hours, longer for revision or complex crooked noses.

Recovery

  • Days 1–3: congestion and pressure; mild painkillers; sleep with the head elevated.

  • Day 5–7: internal and external splints removed; breathing improves noticeably.

  • Weeks 2–3: return to social life; most bruising gone.

  • Weeks 6–8: return to sport.

  • Up to 12 months: gradual refinement of the tip and final result.

Risks

Bleeding, infection, persistent obstruction, septal perforation, asymmetry and the need for revision are possible but uncommon in experienced hands. See rhinoplasty risks and safety.

Septoplasty vs rhinoplasty vs septorhinoplasty: which one do you need?

The three names are often mixed up, and the difference matters for planning, recovery and cost:

  • Septoplasty straightens only the septum, the wall between the two nostrils. It is done from inside the nose and does not change the outside shape.

  • Rhinoplasty reshapes the outside of the nose: the hump, the tip, the width, the nostrils. On its own it does not correct a blocked septum.

  • Septorhinoplasty combines both in one operation, so a crooked or blocked nose is straightened on the inside and reshaped on the outside at the same time.

If your main complaint is breathing and you are happy with the shape, septoplasty may be enough. If the nose is also crooked, has a hump or a drooping tip, a septorhinoplasty avoids a second operation and a second recovery. A crooked septum very often goes together with a crooked outer nose, which is why many patients who come for breathing end up having septorhinoplasty. See S-shaped nose correction and crooked and broken nose surgery.

Septorhinoplasty in Turkey: how it works at the Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic

Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas performs septorhinoplasty with his closed atraumatic technique: all incisions are inside the nostrils, so there is no external scar, and the tissues are handled gently to reduce swelling and bruising. The septum is straightened and the cartilage that is removed from it is reused as graft material to support the tip and the nasal valves, so breathing is protected rather than weakened. He has performed more than 10,000 nose operations and teaches the technique to surgeons from other countries at live-surgery courses in Istanbul. Read more about closed atraumatic rhinoplasty and the rhinoplasty (nose job) in Istanbul page.

A typical trip for a patient from abroad:

  • Before travel: photographs and a description of your breathing problem are reviewed online; a CT scan, if you have one, is helpful.

  • Day of surgery: after the operation you go back to your hotel with a cast on the nose.

  • Day 7: the cast and any internal splints are removed, and you are cleared to fly home. Most patients stay in Istanbul for about 7 days.

  • After you return: online follow-up continues for one year; swelling of the tip takes several months to settle, and breathing usually improves once the internal swelling goes down.

Video: Rhinoplasty: what the nose looks like 7 days after surgery. Watch on YouTube

What does septorhinoplasty cost in Turkey?

The fee for septorhinoplasty is quoted individually after Prof. Dr. Tas has reviewed your photographs or examined you, because it depends on how much work the septum, the valves and the outer nose need, and on whether it is a first operation or a revision. It covers the surgery, the hospital, the cast and splints, the follow-up visits in Istanbul and one year of online follow-up. See rhinoplasty cost in Turkey: what the price covers.

Frequently asked questions

Is septorhinoplasty covered by insurance?

The functional septal portion may be covered in some systems; the cosmetic part generally is not.

Will my breathing improve immediately?

It improves once splints are removed and continues to improve as internal swelling settles over weeks.

Does septorhinoplasty leave scars?

No visible scars with the closed technique; a small, hidden columellar scar with the open technique.

Is septorhinoplasty in Turkey safe?

Safety depends on who operates, where, and how you are followed up, not on the country. At the Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic the operation is performed personally by a double board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 10,000 nose operations, in a fully equipped hospital, with one year of online follow-up after you return home.

How long do I need to stay in Istanbul after septorhinoplasty?

About 7 days. The cast and internal splints are removed on about day 7, after which you can fly. Plan quiet days in your hotel for the first week; sightseeing can wait until after the cast comes off.

Will septorhinoplasty leave a visible scar?

With the closed technique used by Prof. Dr. Tas, all incisions are inside the nostrils, so there is no visible external scar. Open rhinoplasty leaves a small scar on the columella, the strip of skin between the nostrils.

Can septorhinoplasty fix both breathing and a crooked nose in one operation?

Yes. That is exactly what the operation is for: the septum is straightened on the inside and the outer nose is reshaped in the same session, so you have one recovery rather than two.

How soon can I breathe better after septorhinoplasty?

Breathing is usually blocked for the first week because of internal swelling and splints. Once the splints are out and the swelling settles, most patients notice clearer breathing within a few weeks, and it continues to improve over the following months.

Next step

Contact Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas Clinic for a combined breathing and aesthetic assessment with Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas.

About the author

Prof. Dr. Suleyman Tas is a European Board-certified plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon based in Istanbul with over 20 years of experience, author of Rhinoplasty in Practice (CRC Press) and founder of the Closed Atraumatic Rhinoplasty Course. Read verified patient reviews or book a consultation.

This article is for general information and does not replace an individual medical consultation.

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