Rhinoplasty in Türkiye

What it is

Rhinoplasty is an operation to change the shape of the nose. The surgeon can make the nose smaller by removing cartilage and bone, make it larger by adding grafts (cartilage from the ear, or bone from the hip, elbow or skull), or reshape it by breaking the nasal bone and rearranging the cartilage.

There are two ways in. In open rhinoplasty the surgeon cuts across the skin between the nostrils; in closed rhinoplasty the cuts are small and inside the nostrils and leave no visible scar, but closed surgery is not always possible. Which one is planned affects what you should expect to see in the mirror afterwards, so ask which was used and why.

Rhinoplasty is not the same operation as septoplasty, which straightens the wall inside the nose to help breathing and is explained on our septoplasty page. The two are often done in one sitting (septorhinoplasty), and a quote that says "nose job" without saying which one is included is not clear enough to compare.

Who it is for, and who it is not for

People have rhinoplasty because they want a different shape, or because an injury or earlier operation has changed the nose. In the UK it is usually not available through the health service for cosmetic reasons; it may be offered when it is needed to help someone breathe.

It is not a quick or small decision. Results cannot be guaranteed, and the full effect takes months to show. If you are being treated for a mental-health condition, or you are unsure why you want the change, talk to the clinician treating you before you book anything. It is reasonable to take time.

If your main problem is a blocked nose, do not assume rhinoplasty will fix it. Ask for the breathing problem to be examined as a separate question.

How it is done in Türkiye

You can expect a general anaesthetic, an operation of roughly 1.5 to 3 hours, and an overnight stay of one or two nights. A splint is taped over the nose for about a week; the nose is blocked or hard to breathe through for about that long, and stitches (unless they dissolve) come out at around a week.

Who may operate and where is less simple than on a clinic website. Rhinoplasty is performed by ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons and by plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons in Türkiye. The Turkish ENT society has publicly stated that ENT specialists are entitled to perform facial aesthetic procedures, and Turkish plastic surgery is a five-year specialty. A Turkish court has held a general surgeon medically at fault for a nose operation in a reported case, which is why the specialty matters more than the job title "aesthetic surgeon".

On facility type, the Ministry's rules for outpatient facilities allow a medical centre to offer surgery only with a surgical permit limited to the specialties named on it; patients with an anaesthetic risk grade (ASA) of 3 or above cannot be operated on there, and observation after surgery is limited to 24 hours. A polyclinic is not allowed to run around the clock or to have an emergency unit. A hospital can admit you overnight. We could not find a rule that says nose surgery must be done in a hospital, so ask the facility to state in writing where the operation will take place and where you will sleep that night.

The register records that a facility is authorised to treat international patients; each facility enters its own treatment list, and the authorisation does not certify the procedure. It is a starting point, not an answer.

What to check before you book

• The surgeon, by name. Ask who will operate, and that it will be that person, not an assistant. Compare the name with the register entry, and ask for the specialty certificate if the register does not show the specialty.
• The specialty. ENT or plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery. A general surgeon is not the specialty that fits this operation.
• The place. Hospital, medical centre or polyclinic, the address, and the authorisation number. See how to read an authorisation number.
• The anaesthetist. A named doctor, in the theatre throughout, with their specialty stated.
• Two consultations. UK guidance suggests two consultations before surgery with a cooling-off period of about two weeks between them, at least one in person, with the surgeon rather than only sales staff.
• Your flight. UK public-health guidance advises avoiding flying for 7 to 10 days after facial procedures because flying after major surgery raises the risk of blood clots. Ask for the clearance in writing.
• Aftercare. Who sees you at the first week, who you phone at home, in your language, and what happens if you need a second operation.
• Records. An operation note, anaesthetic record, discharge summary, and a copy of your file. In Türkiye you have the right to inspect your file and take a copy. See what records to ask for.

For more on the full journey, read rhinoplasty in Türkiye: the full guide.

What a package must state

• The exact operation: rhinoplasty, septoplasty, or both, open or closed, and any grafts and where they come from.
• The facility's name, type, address and authorisation number, and the surgeon's and anaesthetist's names and specialties.
• Number of nights in hospital and what the room is.
• Pre-operative tests and who reads them.
• All consultations, the planned dates, and the minimum stay after surgery.
• Follow-up visits in Türkiye, and remote follow-up after you return, and for how long.
• Medicines, splints, dressings and tests that are included or charged separately.
• Transfers, accommodation and who pays if you must stay longer.
• What is covered, and who pays, if you need further surgery or treatment of a complication, and in which country.
• The documents you will be given on leaving.

Compare packages only when they say the same thing in the same words.

Risks, complications and aftercare

Common after the operation: a blocked, stiff, numb nose; soreness, swelling and bruising around the eyes that can last up to about three weeks; light nosebleeds in the first days. Less common nose-specific complications include permanent breathing difficulty, damage to the cartilage wall between the nostrils, a changed sense of smell and heavy nosebleeds. As with any operation there is a risk of bleeding, infection, a blood clot in a vein and a reaction to the anaesthetic. Some people are not satisfied and have another operation.

Typical recovery: up to two weeks off work; around three weeks for bruising and swelling to fade; strenuous exercise and contact sports after 4 to 6 weeks. Propping your head up for a couple of days, not blowing your nose or removing crusts until the splint is off, and sneezing through the mouth are standard instructions.

Contact the clinic promptly for severe pain or anything unexpected; if you are at home, call NHS 111 or a local emergency service rather than waiting for the clinic. If something goes wrong, see our guides on aftercare and how to complain.

Questions to ask in writing

• Who exactly will operate, and what is their specialty and registration?
• Where will the operation take place, and where will I spend the first night?
• Who is the anaesthetist, and will they be present for the whole operation?
• Is it open or closed rhinoplasty, will grafts be used, and where from?
• How long must I stay after surgery before I may fly, and will you confirm it in writing?
• What follow-up is there in the first week, and by phone or video after I go home, and in what language?
• If I need a revision or treatment for a complication, who performs it, where, and who pays?
• What documents will I receive when I leave, including the operation note and anaesthetic record?
• Will my file be released to my own doctor on request?
• Can I see the contract before I pay any deposit, and what is the cancellation position?

To have a named clinic checked, see the Research Pass.

This page is an information service, not medical advice. Clinimora is an independent, patient-funded research service. It does not sell treatment, does not diagnose and does not recommend any clinic.