A large share of patients who struggle to breathe through their nose are also unhappy with how it looks — and few realise this is no coincidence. A deviated septum narrows the airway and contributes to visible crookedness. Septorhinoplasty addresses both problems under one anaesthetic, with one recovery.
What a Deviated Septum Is — and How It Shapes the Nose
The septum is the cartilage-and-bone wall dividing the nose into two passages. When deviated — congenitally or after trauma — it causes one- or two-sided obstruction, mouth-breathing at night, snoring and a tendency to sinus problems. Significant deviations also show externally as a crooked nose: function and aesthetics are two faces of the same anatomical problem.
This is why internal examination can never be skipped in a rhinoplasty consult: an operation that straightens the outside while leaving the inside blocked is half a job.
Why Combine Them in One Operation?
Separate septoplasty and rhinoplasty mean two anaesthetics, two recoveries and two costs. More importantly, the cartilage removed from the septum is the prime grafting material in rhinoplasty — separating the operations wastes it.
In the combined approach the airway is opened, the deviation corrected, grafts harvested from the same septum, and the external reshaping completed. One session, one splint, one recovery.
Examination and Planning
Assessment runs in two layers: functional (septum, turbinates, internal valve) and aesthetic (profile, tip, base). Both layers are mapped in every patient with breathing complaints, and the surgical plan is personalised to that map.
Most cases can be performed through the closed approach; complex deviations sometimes warrant open access for visibility — anatomy decides, not dogma.
Recovery and Results
Recovery closely mirrors standalone rhinoplasty: splint (and any internal silicone splints) out at day 5–7, social life at 7–10 days, sport from weeks 3–4. Breathing improvement is felt gradually as internal swelling resolves, with the durable functional result declaring itself at 2–3 months.
Our recovery guide applies in full, with an added internal-care and spray protocol specific to septal work.
Practical Information — Septorhinoplasty
Septorhinoplasty: septum correction + aesthetic reshaping in one session; duration: 2–3 hours; anaesthesia: general; splint: 5–7 days; back to work: 7–10 days; breathing improvement: declares at 2–3 months; key advantage: one anaesthetic, one recovery, septal cartilage reused as graft material.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a deviated septum and nose shape be fixed in the same operation?
Yes — that is precisely what septorhinoplasty is. The airway is opened, the deviation corrected and the external reshaping completed in one session, with septal cartilage reused as graft material.
Is septorhinoplasty better than two separate operations?
For patients needing both corrections, almost always: one anaesthetic, one recovery, lower combined cost, and no waste of septal cartilage that the aesthetic stage needs as grafts.
Will septoplasty alone change how my nose looks?
Pure septoplasty targets the airway and usually produces no visible change. If a visibly crooked nose is driven by the septum, correcting the shape requires the combined septorhinoplasty approach.
When will my breathing improve?
Expect congestion from internal swelling in the first weeks; the real airway gain is felt between weeks 3–6 as oedema resolves, settling into its permanent state by 2–3 months.
Septorhinoplasty in Istanbul — Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal's Practice
Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal's private clinic is located in central Istanbul, in the Nisantasi district — Istanbul's premier neighborhood for plastic surgery and luxury services. Address: Teşvikiye Cad. No:9/12, Istanbul. The clinic is easily accessible from major Istanbul hotels and from Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).
Istanbul has become a leading destination for plastic surgery worldwide, attracting patients from Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia. International patients choose Istanbul for the combination of board-certified plastic surgeons, modern accredited hospitals, competitive pricing compared to Western Europe and the US, and the cultural appeal of the city itself.
Dr. Erdal's Istanbul practice is structured to provide international patients with seamless coordination: video consultation prior to travel, airport-hotel transfer, English-speaking medical team, accommodation arrangements at partner hotels near the clinic, and full postoperative follow-up. Hospital partners are accredited facilities in central Istanbul with international anesthesia standards. WhatsApp consultations are available at +90 544 850 72 32 for international inquiries.
Author: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayhan Işık Erdal — Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Specialist, FACS (American College of Surgeons), FEBOPRAS (European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery). Hacettepe University Medical School graduate; trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (NYC) and Ghent University Hospital (Belgium). 30+ peer-reviewed international publications.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual evaluation requires in-person consultation.