A combined rhinoplasty, known in surgical terms as septorhinoplasty, is for people who want to change the shape of their nose and who also breathe poorly: shape and breathing are corrected together in one operation. The bridge and the tip are reshaped while, inside, the septum, the turbinates and the nasal valves are repaired. The septum, the bones and the tip cartilages form a single structure, so it makes sense to treat them together: one plan, one anaesthetic, one recovery.
As an ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Teker looks for functional problems in every patient, including those who come only for their profile.
Three things that block a nose
The septum. The central wall bends and narrows one passage. Straightening it is the core of the functional part of the operation, and the straight cartilage removed becomes graft material.
The turbinates. The shelves on the side walls swell with allergy and irritation. Reducing them gives more room while aiming to preserve their role in warming and humidifying air.
The valves. The narrowest point of the airway, where the septum meets the upper side cartilages. When it is too narrow or collapses on inspiration, spreader grafts hold it open. Lowering a hump without protecting this area is a common cause of breathing problems after rhinoplasty.
One operation, one plan
The aesthetic plan is made exactly as it would be for a rhinoplasty alone, on standardised photographs, with each change explained. The functional plan comes from endoscopic examination and, if needed, a CT scan. In surgery, Dr. Teker works from the inside out: the septum first, then the valves and turbinates, then the bridge and tip. Cartilage taken from the septum supports the tip and widens the valves, so the two halves of the operation help each other.
Recovery
Expect the same course as after rhinoplasty: a splint on the bridge for a week, a stuffy nose while the internal swelling settles, bruising that fades within ten days. Soft silicone splints support the septum for the first week and are removed with the external splint. Breathing usually improves steadily over the first six weeks. The shape refines over a year.
Who it is for
Anyone considering rhinoplasty who also breathes poorly, and anyone who has been told their septum is deviated but also dislikes the look of their nose. If your only concern is breathing, a septoplasty alone is enough, and Dr. Teker will say so; if the main problem is a nose that looks crooked from the outside, crooked nose surgery is planned.