Medical Encyclopaedia › Rhinoplasty (short definition)
In brief: In nose reshaping (rhinoplasty), the shape and size of the external nose are changed surgically. It is often combined with straightening of the nasal septum (septorhinoplasty) if nasal breathing is also obstructed. Rhinoplasty is considered one of the most demanding procedures on the face because form and function are closely linked.
Aesthetic and functional reasons
Some people want correction of, for example, a hump, a broad or drooping nasal tip or a crooked nose. Medical reasons are a deviated nasal septum, the consequences of accidents, malformations as in cleft lip and palate, or collapse of the nostrils on inhalation. Often both concerns can be combined in one procedure. Every plan therefore begins with an examination of the inside of the nose, usually by ENT specialists or in plastic surgery.
How is the operation performed?
The procedure is usually performed under general anaesthesia and takes one to several hours depending on the extent. In the closed technique, all incisions are inside the nose. In the open technique, a small incision is added on the bridge between the nostrils, which allows a better overview, for example in complex tip corrections. Cartilage and bone are removed, reshaped or repositioned; missing supporting tissue is often replaced with the patient’s own cartilage from the septum, ear or rib. In addition to chisels and rasps, ultrasound-based instruments are sometimes used to work on the bone.
Healing and course
After the operation, a splint or cast usually supports the nose for about one to two weeks; packing or silicone sheets inside the nose are removed after a few days. Swelling and bruising around the eyes are common in the first days and usually subside significantly within two weeks. However, the nasal tip often remains slightly swollen for many months; the final result can often only be assessed after about a year. Sport, glasses resting on the bridge of the nose and knocks should be avoided in the first weeks.
Risks and limits
- secondary bleeding, infection, wound-healing problems
- obstructed nasal breathing, adhesions or a hole in the nasal septum
- sensory disturbances at the nasal tip, usually temporary
- irregularities, asymmetries or a result that does not meet expectations
- visible scars with the open technique or at cartilage donor sites
Some patients need a further correction (revision rhinoplasty), which is usually more difficult than the first procedure and should be planned at the earliest once healing is complete. Rhinoplasty can change the nose but cannot shape it at will: skin thickness, cartilage stability and facial proportions set limits.
Alternatives
Smaller contour irregularities are sometimes corrected with hyaluronic acid fillers (non-surgical rhinoplasty). The procedure is only temporarily effective and carries a particular risk in the nasal area of vascular occlusion with skin damage or, very rarely, visual disturbances. It does not make the nose smaller and does not replace functional surgery.
Costs and important to know
If breathing is obstructed, German health insurers usually cover the functional part of the procedure; purely aesthetic parts must be paid for privately and should be itemised separately in advance. Before deciding, a detailed consultation with sufficient time to reflect is recommended. In adolescents, aesthetic corrections are usually postponed until facial growth is complete. If strong concerns about appearance predominate despite minor visible deviations, body dysmorphic disorder may be present, in which surgery often does not bring satisfaction and a psychological assessment is advisable.
Related terms in the encyclopaedia
Rhinoplasty, Septorhinoplasty, Septoplasty, Deviated septum, Non-surgical rhinoplasty, Vascular occlusion after filler, Chin correction, Haematoma, Body dysmorphic disorder
Sources
- AWMF-Leitlinie „Formstörungen der inneren und/oder äußeren Nase (mit funktioneller Beeinträchtigung)“, Deutsche Gesellschaft für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie
- Ishii LE et al.: Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2017
- Deutsche Gesellschaft der Plastischen, Rekonstruktiven und Ästhetischen Chirurgen (DGPRÄC): Patienteninformationen
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für HNO-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Hals-Chirurgie (DGHNO-KHC): Patienteninformationen
Note: This article is for general information and does not replace advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor, dentist or pharmacist. Last updated: October 2026.