Rhinoplasty FAQs

1. What is rhinoplasty or septoplasty?
2. What is the difference between cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional rhinoplasty?
3. Is there a minimum age for rhinoplasty?
4. How long does a rhinoplasty procedure take?
5. How long will I need to be hospitalized for rhinoplasty?
6. What type of anesthesia is used for rhinoplasty?
7. Will there be any visible scars? 8. Is
rhinoplasty painful?
9. Is the removal of nasal packing painful?
10. How long will I need to wear the splint or cast?
11. What is secondary rhinoplasty?
12. What should be avoided after rhinoplasty?
13. When will I be able to see the final result of my rhinoplasty?
14. In what cases is rhinoplasty surgery covered by social security?

1. What is a rhinoplasty or a rhino-septoplasty?

Rhinoplasty, or rhinoseptoplasty, refers to nose surgery aimed at correcting certain imperfections and potential nasal breathing problems that can be both functional and aesthetically debilitating. This procedure should result in a nose that appears natural, is proportionate to the facial balance, and is functional—that is, one that breathes, smells, and filters properly.

2. What is the difference between cosmetic rhinoplasty and functional rhinoplasty?

Cosmetic rhinoplasty aims to modify the nasal pyramid, either its upper bony portion or its lower cartilaginous portion, while functional rhinoplasty aims to correct breathing problems often caused by a deviated septum. Both objectives can be addressed and corrected in the same surgical procedure; this is then called a mixed rhinoplasty.

3. Is there a minimum age to be eligible for rhinoplasty?

Generally, we wait 1 to 2 years after puberty, that is, 16/17 years old for a girl, 17/18 years old for a boy. It is important to respect the end of growth and to ensure the genuine stability of motivation.

4. How long does the rhinoplasty procedure take?

The rhinoplasty procedure lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the type of procedure. A simple peak procedure takes 30 minutes, an external reconstructive rhinoplasty with grafting can last 2 hours 30 minutes, the average operating time is one hour.

5. How long should I be hospitalized for a rhinoplasty?

Hospitalization for rhinoplasty varies from half a day for a state-of-the-art procedure to a maximum of 48 hours; most often 24 hours is sufficient and allows for an overnight hospital stay following surgery.

6. What type of anesthesia should be considered for rhinoplasty?

General anesthesia is generally used in most rhinoplasty cases due to the length of the procedure and the need to protect the upper airways. It is therefore necessary to fast—that is, to refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking—for at least six hours before the procedure. No medication containing aspirin should be taken for ten days prior to the surgery. In cases involving only cartilage, local or conscious sedation is permitted.

7. Are there any visible scars?

In the vast majority of cases there is no skin incision, everything happens from the inside so there is no scar.

In two circumstances, scarring may occur:

- In the case of an external approach (10 to 15% of rhinoplasties), the scar is located under the tip of the nose and becomes very barely visible over time.

- In the case of nasal plasty, the scar is located in a crease, completely invisible

8Is rhinoplasty painful?

The pain is often very mild, more of a sensation of heaviness in the head that responds well to minor painkillers like paracetamol. This may be accompanied by discomfort due to the need to breathe exclusively through the mouth while the packing is in place for 24 hours.

9. Is the removal of the packing painful?

No, it's an unpleasant but not painful procedure; the removal of the packing takes a few seconds, followed by a little bleeding, but you can quickly resume breathing through your nose.

10. How long should I keep the splint or cast on?

On average, 10 days.

11. What is a secondary rhinoplasty?

A secondary rhinoplasty is a rhinoplasty performed on a patient who has already undergone surgery and is not satisfied with the result. Three procedures are the maximum possible for the same patient.

12. What should be avoided after rhinoplasty?

• A work stoppage of a minimum of 3 days up to a week is recommended depending on your professional activity.
• In the month following rhinoplasty, it is important to avoid any strenuous physical activity and, of course, all contact sports.
• Wearing glasses should be avoided as much as possible.
• It is strongly recommended to avoid sun exposure for 3 months.
• Quitting smoking is strongly recommended.

13. When will I be able to appreciate the final result of my rhinoplasty?

Your nose will be presentable on the street after a week. We'll have an idea of ​​the result after a month, but the final result is achieved after a year.

14. In what cases is rhinoplasty surgery covered by social security?

In cases of complex deformities causing chronic respiratory distress or in the case of post-traumatic damage, treatment can be requested exclusively by an ENT surgeon from the social security medical advisor by submitting a prior agreement request.

If coverage is accepted, a financial contribution from the patient should be considered; this may be partially or fully reimbursed by supplementary health insurance, depending on the contract subscribed.

In other cases, the services are not reimbursable, and a detailed estimate must be provided to the patient, outlining all the services they will have to pay for. The patient has a reasonable reflection period (15 days) to inform the patient of their decision, without incurring any penalty or additional expense, apart from the consultation fee.