If you struggle with medically documented nasal breathing difficulties and wish to improve the shape or size of your nose at the same time, a combined procedure known as septorhinoplasty could be the ideal solution. This surgical approach addresses both functional and aesthetic concerns in a single operation, offering patients the opportunity to enhance their breathing while achieving their desired nose appearance.
At Centre for Surgery, we specialise in advanced nose reshaping surgery, and our surgeons are highly skilled in ENT (ear, nose, and throat) procedures, ensuring you receive the best care and outcomes possible when combining rhinoplasty and septoplasty.
Rhinoplasty vs Septoplasty
Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty involves carefully adjusting the nasal bone, cartilage, and soft tissues so that a patient’s facial features appear more balanced and aesthetically pleasing. Many people who turn to rhinoplasty do so because they feel their nose draws unwanted attention or doesn’t harmonise well with the rest of their facial features. Rhinoplasty can address a wide range of aesthetic concerns, including reducing the size of the nose, correcting a nasal hump, refining the nasal tip, or improving the nose’s overall shape and proportion.
Septoplasty
Septoplasty concentrates primarily on correcting the nasal septum — the vital strip of cartilage and bone that divides the nostrils. When the septum is deviated, meaning it’s shifted to one side rather than positioned centrally, it can cause breathing difficulties that significantly affect daily life. Symptoms of a deviated septum include chronic nasal congestion, frequent nosebleeds, facial pain, or noisy breathing during sleep. Septoplasty aims to straighten the septum, thereby improving the airflow through the nasal passages and alleviating these symptoms.
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Turbinate Reduction
Turbinate reduction often goes hand-in-hand with septoplasty, as both procedures target structural issues within the nose that may be contributing to breathing difficulties. The turbinates are bony structures inside the nose covered with mucous membranes. They help warm, humidify, and filter the air we breathe. However, when turbinates become enlarged — often due to allergies, infections, or environmental irritants — they can obstruct airflow and worsen nasal congestion. Turbinate reduction surgery aims to reduce the size of these enlarged turbinates, thereby improving nasal airflow.
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What is Functional Rhinoplasty?
Functional rhinoplasty is a surgical solution designed to address structural abnormalities and medical conditions affecting a person’s ability to breathe easily. It goes beyond the realms of cosmetic surgery, targeting specific structural issues that impede normal nasal function. Although its primary objective is to enhance nasal performance, functional rhinoplasty can also have aesthetic benefits.
The procedure can involve adjusting the nasal septum to correct a deviated septum, reducing the size of the turbinates to improve airflow, or even restructuring the outer part of the nose to correct structural deformities that may be obstructing the nasal passages. Patients seeking a more balanced nasal shape may discover that addressing functional defects in tandem with the external adjustment brings about a noticeable improvement, both in terms of breathing efficiency and overall facial aesthetics.
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Combining Functional and Aesthetic Nasal Surgery: Understanding the Benefits of Septorhinoplasty
Septorhinoplasty is an integrated approach that combines internal structural corrections with external cosmetic enhancements in a single surgical session. This combined procedure offers a holistic solution for patients who are looking to address both functional and aesthetic nasal concerns. By combining both procedures into a single operation, patients benefit from several key advantages:
One surgeon manages all aspects of the patient’s nasal health, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated treatment plan. There’s only one recovery period for both procedures, saving time and reducing the overall disruption to the patient’s life. The combined approach can be more cost-effective than having two separate procedures, as it eliminates the costs associated with two separate anaesthetic sessions, two surgical team fees, and two sets of facility costs.
Furthermore, the visual and functional outcomes are often superior when both procedures are performed together. The surgeon can take a holistic view of the nose, considering both the internal structure and external appearance when making surgical decisions. This integrated approach often yields more harmonious and satisfying results for patients, both aesthetically and functionally.
Who Makes a Good Candidate for Combined Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty?
The ideal candidate for a combined rhinoplasty and septoplasty (septorhinoplasty) procedure is someone who has both aesthetic concerns about their nose and functional issues related to nasal breathing. Common indicators that you could benefit from this combined approach include a deviated septum causing breathing difficulties that haven’t improved with non-surgical treatments, dissatisfaction with the appearance of your nose, whether it’s the overall size, shape, or symmetry, a crooked nose due to injury or hereditary factors that is affecting both appearance and breathing, and chronic nasal congestion that is hampering daily life.
Prospective patients should be in good general health, non-smokers or willing to stop smoking well before the procedure, and have realistic expectations about the outcomes of the surgery. At Centre for Surgery, our experienced team assesses each patient individually, ensuring they are suitable candidates before recommending this combined procedure.
Recovery after Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty
Septoplasty alone usually represents the shortest road to recovery — many people find themselves comfortable enough to return to their everyday work routine after around five days. Rhinoplasty tends to be more involved, so combining the two adds some complexity, though also means a single recovery period rather than two.
Under normal circumstances, patients can generally return home on the same day as surgery. There will be swelling and bruising in the days that follow, and the nose will be protected with a splint for the first week. Planning to stay away from regular work for about two weeks is often a wise precaution.
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Gentle nasal saline rinses can help keep the nasal passages clear as they heal, and patients should avoid blowing their nose for several weeks. Strenuous activity and contact sports should be avoided for at least six weeks post-surgery. A significant portion of the swelling subsides by the three-month point, with final results continuing to evolve over a full year as residual swelling resolves and the tissues settle.
How Much Does Septorhinoplasty Cost?
The cost of a combined rhinoplasty and septoplasty varies depending on the complexity of the work required, the experience of the surgeon, and the specific techniques employed. As a combined procedure, septorhinoplasty tends to be less expensive than having the two operations separately. For detailed pricing information and a personalised quote, we recommend booking a consultation with one of our specialist surgeons. Visit our rhinoplasty cost guide for a general overview.
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Why Choose Centre for Surgery for Your Nasal Surgery?
At Centre for Surgery, we pride ourselves on being one of London’s leading clinics for advanced plastic surgery and ENT procedures. Our expert surgeons are leaders in their fields, bringing years of experience and dedication to delivering exceptional results for every patient. We employ the most advanced surgical techniques and use state-of-the-art facilities to ensure you receive the highest level of care in a safe, comfortable environment.
We believe in a patient-centred approach — from the moment you contact us to your post-operative care, we’re committed to providing the support and guidance you need. Our team will work closely with you to develop a personalised surgical plan that meets your specific needs and goals.
Call us on 0207 993 4849, email us at contact@centreforsurgery.com, or visit our Contact Us page to get started.
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