Rhinoplasty and Nose Surgery in Turkey

Rhinoplasty or Nose Surgery is a surgical procedure to change or correct the shape of the nose. Rhinoplasty or nose job is the shaping of the nose, whose origin is rhinion in Latin.

Dissatisfaction with the shape and appearance of the nose due to its natural state or subsequent defects is corrected by rhinoplasty surgery.

Shape change in accordance with the characteristic features of the face occurs by restructuring the anatomical (cartilage, bone and soft tissue) structures of the nose with surgical techniques.

Rhinoplasty is a medical art that blends anatomy, physiology and living tissue knowledge with aesthetic vision.

The nose, which is an important component of the facial appearance with its external structure, is also an indispensable respiratory organ with its internal structure and function.

In the treatment of septum irregularity (septum deviation), which is the most common cause of nasal congestion, septum surgery and complementary procedures are applied together.

Natural nasal breathing, that is, the normal function of the nose is ensured.
The nose can change shape over time, as the age progresses, it grows, sags and the skin becomes thicker.

The most affected area as a result of facial trauma is the nose. Nasal congestion develops as a result of collapse, fracture and slippage in bone and cartilage structure as well as deformities.Often, rhinoplasty is performed with the desire to correct or change the shape of the nose. While the purpose is aesthetic, the function must be preserved and not impaired.

What is septorinoplasty?

It is a surgical procedure in which the shape of the nose is changed by correcting the irregular cartilage-bone structures that prevent the air flow in the nose.

In other words, it is both internal and external surgery of the nose.

The need for septorhinoplasty arises with the correction of nasal function for health and visual change for aesthetic concern.

If, in addition to the complaint of nasal congestion, there is a desire to correct the shape of the nose, the internal and external problems of the nose are eliminated with rhinoplasty at the same time. We call these operations septorhinoplasty.

Why is nose breathing important?

The nose, besides being an organ that creates the meaning and image of the face, has an important function.

Nasal breathing is breathing.Healthy breathing starts with normal nasal breathing, it is necessary for smelling, maintaining the characteristic sound quality and the continuation of many bodily functions.

The main function of the upper airway, which starts with the nostrils and nasal cavity, is to provide air passage by providing a certain resistance.

The inhaled air is heated, humidified and filtered. The ideal content of air is delivered to the lungs.

Regular and correct breathing – which starts with a working nose – is indispensable for physical health and quality of life, as well as during daily life activities and vigorous movements.

What are the risks of rhinoplasty or nose surgery?

Bleeding, infection and anesthesia effects, which are the general risks of surgical procedures, are also possible in rhinoplasty.

Apart from these: nasal congestion, crusting, dryness, decreased sensation on the skin, hardness, color change, swelling, pain, scar formation and unnatural results may occur.

During the preoperative preparation period, rhinoplasty candidates are informed about the possible risks by the surgeon.

Where should I have rhinoplasty in Turkey?

Should this surgery be performed by an ear, nose, throat specialist or plastic surgeon?

Nose aesthetic surgery is an operation of the facial aesthetics (Facial Plastic) branch. Otorhinolaryngology specialists make up 60% of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery members.

An otolaryngologist is a head and neck surgeon.

The only branch that has nose surgery in its basic education is ENT specialization.

Facial plastic surgery, as a sub-branch of ENT specialty, is rapidly spreading all over the world.

An ENT specialist dealing with facial plastic surgery will ideally solve this question. However, you will still make the right decision about choosing your doctor.

Before The Rhinoplasty Surgery

Before the operation, two interviews are conducted with the patient (we use the term patient because he is a surgical candidate) who applied with the complaint of dissatisfaction with the shape of his nose.

In the first meeting,
A comprehensive nasal examination (endoscopic and physical examination) was performed.

It is spoken to understand what the patient does not like in his nose, how he wants it to be, and how willing he is.

Many of our patients, like many people who are considering rhinoplasty surgery, come with previous knowledge from various internet sites or printed sources.

However, since it is an operation that should be personalized to the individual, and also considering the differences in approach and technique, information is given about the size and process of the operation.
As before every surgical procedure, general health status evaluation and medical history inquiry are made.
Photo shoot is done.

Photo examination has an important place in the evaluation before rhinoplasty. In the computer aided photo study, an idea can be formed about how the patient’s new nose looks on his face after rhinoplasty.

Thanks to the photographic study, the surgeon obtains information about the wishes and dislikes of the rhinoplasty candidate and the perception of changes in his face.

For a realistic, natural nose that will live in harmony with the face for life, the desire of the rhinoplasty candidate and what the surgeon can do should be fully compatible.

However, it should be noted that this work is done in a graphical software environment, does not promise a guarantee.

Rhinoplasty is a living tissue surgery formed by skin-cartilage-bone structures.

Tissue adaptation and healing is a dynamic process and the surgeon observes this process while applying the techniques.

In the second meeting,
Information is given on the photographic work. After the first meeting, questions that come to mind are answered.

In this interview, it is tried to understand how willing the person is before rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty, and he is asked to make a final decision without any question marks in his mind.

After the questions are answered and the examination and analysis are completed, the date of the operation is determined.

The operation is mostly performed under general anesthesia in a fully equipped hospital.

On the day of the operation, routine blood tests and anesthesia examination are performed and the patient is taken to the operating room in a safe condition.

During  rhinoplasty surgery

In the past, the popular approach to almost every nose was reduction surgery by chipping, carving and incision.

Except for very large and protruding noses, the nose should be shaped by preserving the bone-cartilage structures, and there should not be a nose that contradicts the facial expression of the person.

Today, rhinoplasty is performed with in situ shaping and anatomical rearrangement techniques with cartilage attachments, instead of removing structural elements (cartilage-bone) or disrupting their integrity.

Nasal ridge: protrusions are corrected, width is narrowed, symmetry is provided, if narrow is widened, depression is supported, subcutaneous irregularities are eliminated, subcutaneous support is supported.

The tip of the nose is narrowed, symmetry is provided, arranged, lifted, if it is too upturned, it is pulled back to normal, the nostrils are reduced, the nose wings are supported.

Curved nose: asymmetrical structures are reconstructed, the lack of support is replaced, camouflage provides symmetry.

Intranasal: strictures are opened functionally, structures that narrow the air passage are corrected, tissue deficiencies are replaced.
Rhinoplasty surgery normally takes 2-3 hours.

The operation is terminated with tape and splint application on the back of the nose. Nose pads are not used except in very special situations.

Over the years, rhinoplasty techniques have also changed in parallel with the development of the understanding of creating a natural-looking nose that is compatible with the person’s face and mimic character.

This situation increases patient satisfaction gradually with better results.

Post Rhinoplasty Surgery

Cold application is made between the first 4-6 hours after the operation.

Today, the pain, swelling and bruising that patients complain about the most in the post-rhinoplasty period has almost disappeared.

Discoloration of the skin around the eyes 2.-3. days though, it disappears in a week.

The splint on the back of the nose is removed after 7 days. Depending on the skin feature, tape can be applied for 1 week afterwards.

Postoperative early edema period lasts 6-8 weeks. It takes about a year for full recovery and the appearance of the final state.

Follow-up examinations after rhinoplasty are done at the 3rd, 6th and 12th months.

Our long-term follow-up continues with annual controls and photographs.

What is revision rhinoplasty?

After undergoing a rhinoplasty operation, expectations may not be met, an undesirable appearance or differentiation may have developed over time. In these cases, we call revision rhinoplasty the rhinoplasty operation(s) performed to eliminate a permanent structural or aesthetic problem that developed after a previous rhinoplasty operation.

The need for revision after rhinoplasty operations may be required in 3-15% of cases, even by the most experienced surgeons.

Revision can be very limited contour or position corrections, or it can be a comprehensive surgery for serious structural problems.

In cases of significant tissue-support loss, more complex techniques and experience are required than a nose that has not been operated before. In revision cases, severe nasal breathing difficulties may accompany, apart from the appearance problem.

In revision rhinoplasty, aesthetic adjustment should be made on the basis of nasal function repair.

Living tissue is not a structure that can remain stable in nature like metal or stone. With surgical intervention (incision, suture, tissue insertion, repositioning, etc.), a responding, adapting and changing process is experienced during the recovery period.

In the long term, tissue change continues.

For this reason, surgical techniques are applied in every rhinoplasty, especially in revision rhinoplasty, without compromising the natural appearance principle, by considering the response of time and tissue.