All about rhinoplasty – procedure, methods, costs -

Brief overview: What is rhinoplasty and how does it work?

Rhinoplasty, also known as “nose job” or “nose surgery”, is a surgical correction of the nose, it belongs to the specialty of plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery.

Rhinoplasty is performed to improve the appearance of the nose or to correct certain medical problems, for example, due to obstructed nasal breathing. During the surgical procedure, the surgeon makes incisions in and around the nostrils, removes excess tissue or cartilage, and then reshapes the nose.

After liposuction, breast augmentation, and eyelid lift, rhinoplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world.

When is a nose job an option?

If you are unhappy with your nose, rhinoplasty may be an option for you. Rhinoplasty is most often performed for aesthetic reasons, e.g. to correct facial asymmetries or to improve the appearance of the nose. Here are a few common examples where rhinoplasty may be an option:

with a crooked nose
for nose humps
for overlong or sunken nose tips
for very wide noses
for a nose saddle

In addition, rhinoplasty can be used for functional reasons – to correct certain medical problems. For example, breathing problems due to a deviated septum may be corrected by surgery, or a rhinoplasty may be necessary due to chronic sinusitis. When a deviated septum is corrected, it is also referred to as a septal correction.

In rare cases, rhinoplasty is used to reconstruct the nose. This is the case when patients want to restore the natural shape of their nose after accidents or other injuries.

Medical requirements for rhinoplasty

Before a person undergoes rhinoplasty, it is necessary to make sure that they meet the medical requirements. These requirements vary depending on the age and health status of the patient.

In general, there are relatively few exclusion criteria for rhinoplasty. Care must be taken to ensure that the skin in the affected area is not injured or inflamed. In addition, patients should be in good health and have no serious medical conditions or diseases that could interfere with healing. In addition, patients should be at least 18 years old so that the growth phase of the body is completely finished.

What are the techniques of nose correction?

Aesthetic vs. functional rhinoplasty

Aesthetic nose correction improves the appearance of the nose, the goal should be that the nose fits the particular face, so that the nose looks harmonious. During this procedure, the surgeon can reduce or enlarge the nose, straighten crooked noses, remove humps, change the shape of the tip of the nose, modify the angle between the nose and upper lip, or change other features such as the size of the nostrils.

Functional rhinoplasty corre cts dysfunctions of the nose, e.g. due to obstructed nasal breathing. This may include correcting a deviated septum, correcting a hole in the septum, improving breathing, or restoring the appearance of the nose after trauma.

Access technique: Closed vs. open access

Rhinoplasty is performed with either a closed or open approach to the nose.

A closed approach (also: closed technique) is used for minor corrections. Here, the incisions are made inside the nose so that the surgeon has access to cartilage and bone tissue. This technique is less invasive than an open technique and generally results in less visible scarring.

For corrections in the lower nasal region and more complex corrections, an open approach (also: open technique) is often necessary. This involves making an incision in the columella (the area between the nostrils), which allows the surgeon better access to the underlying tissue. While this technique is more invasive, it also provides better access to the nose and allows for more precise manipulation of bone and cartilage.

Rhinoplasty with hyaluronic acid (without surgery)

This is a non-surgical form of nose correction, which is suitable for minor aesthetic corrections of the nose, e.g. to compensate for a minor nasal hump or a sunken nose tip. For this purpose, hyaluronic acid is injected at the desired location, which results in the corresponding improvement.

However, the disadvantage of this method is that it only lasts up to two years, as the body breaks down the hyaluronic acid over time.

What is the procedure for a nose job?

Before the operation

Before the operation, you should have a detailed consultation with your attending physician to discuss your wishes and ideas. Your surgeon will usually examine your nose closely to determine how to achieve the best aesthetic result. The focus is on ensuring that the corrected nose does not cause any functional problems (e.g. with breathing) and that it fits aesthetically with your face.

It is also important to discuss any medications you may be taking with your doctor, as certain medications that increase the risk of bleeding should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery.

Operation

The duration of surgery varies greatly because the adjustments to the nose are very individual.

Usually, a nose job requires an inpatient stay in a hospital of at least one night. after consultation, outpatient surgery can be performed in some cases. Only in the case of (very rare) secondary bleeding may a longer hospital stay be necessary. It is best to discuss with your attending physician(s), with a how long. hospital stay you should plan.

The surgical procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia – in exceptional cases it can also be performed under local anesthesia.

Depending on the individual goals of the nose correction, different surgical techniques are used. Typically, the surgeon makes incisions in the non-visible area of the nose (often in the nostrils) to remove excess tissue or cartilage and reshape the nose. Sometimes cartilage tissue is taken from another part of the body and transplanted (e.g. from the auricle / a rib) and sometimes implants are used to improve the appearance and proportions of the nose.

Finally, the incisions are closed with sutures or surgical tape.

Aftercare and recovery

After surgery, you will receive instructions on how to care for your nose, such as how to reduce swelling and bruising, when you can resume physical activities, and other instructions on how to care for your nose. Your doctor may prescribe certain medications to treat the symptoms.

If bony parts of the nose are removed, a splint/tape usually needs to be worn for 14 days after the procedure. You can usually start your job after 1-2 weeks, with sports you can start again after 3-4 weeks. After the first two weeks, patients may need to continue taping the nose independently overnight for 6-8 weeks.

The recovery time after rhinoplasty depends on the extent of the procedure, but is usually about 2 weeks. During this time, swelling, bruising and nasal congestion may occur. Most people can return to their normal activities within 7 days after the procedure.

What are advantages of rhinoplasty?

Aesthetic improvement: Experienced surgeons can achieve a more harmonious appearance for patients through rhinoplasty, improving the overall aesthetics of the face.

Improvement of self-esteem: As an indirect effect, rhinoplasty often strengthens the patient’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Improving respiratory function: Rhinoplasty can improve impaired respiratory function. Experienced cosmetic surgeons pay attention to the fact that even with an aesthetic nose correction, slight improvements in respiratory function can be achieved if necessary.

What are the risks of rhinoplasty?

Although rhinoplasty is one of the most difficult cosmetic surgeries, it is considered a relatively harmless procedure. However, like any surgical procedure, it carries certain risks:

Pain, bruising and swelling in the face: There is often slight pain after the operation and bruising and swelling in the face. However, these effects of rhinoplasty soon recede.

Postoperative bleeding: Postoperative bleeding is rare but can occur. In case of secondary bleeding, a prolongation of the hospital stay may be necessary.

Circulatory disorders and infections: In rare cases, circulatory disturbances of the internal mucous membranes and infections occur.

Scarring: An open approach to the nose in particular may result in scarring. However, an experienced surgeon can usually prevent visible scarring, but in individual cases small, visible scars may occur.

Obstruction of breathing: It may happen that breathing is affected by the nose correction. In such cases, further surgery of the nose may be necessary to correct the breathing restriction.

Injury to the lacrimal duct, sensory nerve or olfactory nerve: these risks are extremely rare. If the corresponding structures are injured, their functions may be impaired (e.g., lacrimation, loss of sensation, or loss of smell).

How expensive is a nose job?

Plastic surgery is very individual and depends on a variety of factors. However, the cost of a rhinoplasty can also vary greatly between different providers within a country. The majority of plastic surgeons will make you a specific offer only after a preliminary examination.

It is important that patients choose the right doctor for them and pay particular attention to the qualifications and experience of the doctor when choosing a doctor. Caution should generally be exercised with low-cost providers.

In Switzerland, Germany and Austria

Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in Europe for rhinoplasty, generally a price range of CHF 6,000 – 12,000 can be expected.

Germany and Austria are slightly cheaper than Switzerland, although Austria also has very high prices for rhinoplasty in some cases. The following price ranges should be expected here:

Germany: EUR 3,000 – 7,500
Austria: EUR 4’200 – 12’000

In other European countries

In Greece, the costs for a nose correction are in the middle range, here a price range of EUR 1,750 – 6,600 should be expected.

The Czech Republic and Hungary have the lowest costs for rhinoplasty – the following price ranges can be expected here:

Czech Republic: EUR 1’000 – 2’950
Hungary: EUR 1’000 – 3’200

When does health insurance cover the costs?

A purely aesthetic nose correction must be paid for entirely out of the patient’s own pocket. In such cases in particular, a great deal of money can be saved by undergoing treatment in another European country.

Health insurance covers the costs of nose correction for certain medical indications, i.e. when there are functional respiratory restrictions, for example in the case of a deviated septum. However, patients should obtain a firm commitment from their health insurance company to cover the costs, as health insurance companies decide on a case-by-case basis. Under certain circumstances, health insurance will only cover part of the cost of the nose correction.

If the rhinoplasty is necessary due to an accident, the accident insurance may cover the cost of the rhinoplasty.

The following table provides an overview of breast augmentation costs in the countries listed above:

Country	Prices for nose correction
Switzerland	CHF 6’000 – 12’000
Germany	EUR 3’000 – 7’500
Austria	EUR 4’200 – 12’000
Greece	EUR 1’750 – 6’600
Czech Republic	EUR 1’000 – 2’950
Hungary	EUR 1’000 – 3’200

Sources: Various price comparison portals and plastic surgeon websites.

Conclusion

Rhinoplasty is a very popular cosmetic surgical procedure and can be a great way to improve the appearance of your nose if you are unhappy with your nose. As with any surgical procedure, it is important to find an experienced and qualified doctor who has experience performing rhinoplasty, and also to carefully consider the cost of the procedure.

Especially in the case of a purely aesthetic nose correction, a lot of money can be saved with the treatment by traveling to other European countries, however, the high qualification and experience of the treating surgeon / surgeon should be clearly taken into account here. In addition, it is important that patients are informed and aware of all the risks of rhinoplasty prior to treatment.

Last update: 03 March 2023

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