# Combined Rhinoplasty (Septorhinoplasty) > Combined rhinoplasty (septorhinoplasty) by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, Istanbul: the nose is reshaped and the septum and airway repaired in one operation. Source: https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/combined-rhinoplasty/ Updated: 2026-10-29 Rhinoplasty The shape of the nose and the breathing through it, corrected together in one operation. [Message on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/905324153539) [Call the practice](tel:+905324153539) Performed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker Operation time 3–4 hours Anaesthesia General Hospital stay 1 night Back to work 7–10 days Final result 12 months A combined [rhinoplasty](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/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](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/septoplasty-deviation-surgery/) alone is enough, and Dr. Teker will say so; if the main problem is a nose that looks crooked from the outside, [crooked nose](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/deviated-nose-surgery/) surgery is planned. ## Is it right for you? - You want to change the shape of your nose and you also breathe poorly. - You have a deviated septum together with a hump, a crooked bridge or a bulbous tip. - Your nose collapses inward when you breathe in deeply. - You have had a septoplasty before and now want to change the shape of your nose as well. - You want a single operation and a single recovery rather than two. ## How the operation is done 1. Combined assessment Photographs for the aesthetic plan and endoscopy for the airway are done at the same consultation. Both problems are mapped before surgery. 2. Open approach A short incision on the columella opens the nose so that the septum, the tip cartilages and the bridge can be seen and treated together. 3. Straightening the septum Bent cartilage and bone are corrected. Straight pieces removed from the septum are kept as graft material for the rest of the operation. 4. Turbinates and valves Enlarged turbinates are reduced and the nasal valves, the narrowest part of the airway, are widened with spreader grafts. 5. Reshaping the outside The bridge is lowered or straightened, the bones are repositioned and the tip is refined, using the septal cartilage as support. 6. Closing and splint Incisions are closed with fine stitches, soft silicone splints support the septum inside and a small splint protects the bridge outside. ## Recovery, step by step 1. Day 1 External splint, internal silicone splints and a blocked nose. Discomfort is usually mild and mostly a feeling of pressure. 2. Week 1 All splints and stitches come out around day 7. Breathing begins to open as the swelling inside settles. 3. Weeks 2–4 Bruising gone, most of the swelling gone. You can return to work. Airflow has usually improved by now. 4. Month 3 Breathing has usually settled at its final level. The bridge looks final; the tip is still slightly swollen. 5. Month 12 Final tip definition. The result is judged as final at this point. ### A note on risks A combined operation carries the risks of both procedures: bleeding, infection, anaesthetic reactions, temporary numbness, a small septal perforation, minor irregularities of the bridge and, in a minority, a touch-up procedure. Because the septum is used as graft material, careful planning is needed to keep enough support for the nose. Dr. Teker discusses the specific risks for your anatomy before you decide. In every surgical or interventional procedure, results may vary from person to person. Please obtain a detailed opinion from your physician before any procedure. ## Questions patients ask **Is it better to do the two operations separately?** For most patients, no. The septum and the outer nose are one structure, and correcting them together spares you a second anaesthetic and a second recovery. **Does the combined operation take much longer to recover from?** Recovery is essentially the same as after rhinoplasty alone. The internal splints add some congestion in the first week but are removed with the external splint. **Will fixing my breathing change the shape I asked for?** It should not. The functional part is done inside; the aesthetic part is planned on your photographs exactly as it would be for a rhinoplasty alone. **I had a septoplasty years ago. Can I still have a combined operation?** Yes. Dr. Teker checks how much septal cartilage remains; if it is not enough for grafts, ear or rib cartilage is used instead. Travelling from abroad? How long to stay in Istanbul, the consultation in person and follow-up after you fly home: [International patients](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/international-patients/) ## References 1. Ishii LE, Tollefson TT, Basura GJ, Rosenfeld RM, Abramson PJ, Chaiet SR, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Improving Nasal Form and Function after Rhinoplasty. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2017;156(S2). [doi:10.1177/0194599816683153](https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599816683153). 2. Han JK, Stringer SP, Rosenfeld RM, Archer SM, Baker DP, Brown SM, et al. Clinical Consensus Statement: Septoplasty with or without Inferior Turbinate Reduction. Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. 2015;153(5):708‑720. [doi:10.1177/0194599815606435](https://doi.org/10.1177/0194599815606435). Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, 26 October 2026 ## Articles on this subject [Septoplasty (Deviated Septum Surgery) · 4 min read Septoplasty or rhinoplasty: which one do I need? The difference between surgery for breathing and surgery for shape, how to tell which problem you have, and why the two are so often combined. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/septoplasty-vs-rhinoplasty-which-do-i-need/) [Rhinoplasty · 4 min read Rhinoplasty recovery, week by week: from day one to the final result A realistic healing timeline after rhinoplasty: the first night, splint removal, when you can work, exercise and fly, and how long the tip takes to settle. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/rhinoplasty-recovery-week-by-week/) [Rhinoplasty · 4 min read Hygiene and cleaning after rhinoplasty: what to do in the first weeks How to rinse the nose, wash your face, shower and care for tapes and stitches after rhinoplasty, and the everyday mistakes that slow healing. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/hygiene-and-cleaning-after-rhinoplasty/) ## Related procedures [Rhinoplasty Rhinoplasty Reshaping the nose so that it fits the face and breathes well, planned around your own features. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/rhinoplasty/) [Nose & sinus Septoplasty (Deviated Septum Surgery) Straightening a deviated septum, the wall inside the nose, to open a blocked airway. A short operation for breathing only, done through the nostrils with no external incisions; the shape of the nose is not expected to change. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/septoplasty-deviation-surgery/) [Nose & sinus Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) Endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps that medication has not controlled. Done entirely through the nostrils, with no external cuts. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/sinus-surgery-fess/) [All procedures](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/) ## Talk it through with Dr. Teker Write on WhatsApp or call to request an appointment. Consultations take place at the practice in Bakırköy. [Message on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/905324153539) [+90 532 415 35 39](tel:+905324153539) [Send a request](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/contact/)