# Crooked Nose Surgery

> Crooked (deviated) nose surgery by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, Istanbul: the bones, septum and cartilage of a nose bent on the outside are realigned to the midline.

Source: https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/deviated-nose-surgery/  
Updated: 2026-10-29

Rhinoplasty

The aim: to bring a nose that looks crooked from the outside closer to the midline of your face, from the brow to the tip.

[Message on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/905324153539) [Call the practice](tel:+905324153539)

Performed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker

Operation time 2.5–3.5 hours

Anaesthesia General

Hospital stay 1 night

Back to work 7–10 days

Final result 12 months

A crooked or deviated nose is one that, seen from outside, does not follow the midline of the face. Seen from the front it leans to one side, or bends in a C or S shape, and it is usually noticed by the patient long before anyone else. The bend is visible on the outside; when the nose looks straight and only the septum inside is bent, the operation is a [septoplasty](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/septoplasty-deviation-surgery/). Many crooked noses are the result of an injury, sometimes a fracture that was never treated, sometimes a childhood fall that was forgotten. Others simply grew that way.

Straightening a crooked nose is one of the more demanding operations in [rhinoplasty](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/rhinoplasty/), because a bent nose is bent in several layers at once. The bones at the top, the cartilage in the middle, the septum inside and the tip can each deviate in their own direction. Correcting only one of them leaves a nose that looks better from some angles and worse from others. Dr. Teker’s approach is to map every layer before surgery and to correct all of them in one operation.

## Inside and outside

A deviated septum is the hidden part of most crooked noses. It pulls the cartilage of the bridge with it and blocks one side of the airway. So the operation begins inside, by straightening the septum while keeping a strong central strip for support. The nasal bones are then freed with fine controlled cuts, known as osteotomies, and moved back to the centre. Finally the cartilage of the middle third is straightened and, more importantly, held straight.

## Why holding matters

Cartilage has a memory. Simply bending it back is not enough, because it slowly returns towards its old shape over the months after surgery. Dr. Teker uses spreader grafts, thin strips of the patient’s own septal cartilage placed along the bridge, together with sutures, to lock the middle of the nose in its new position. Where a slight asymmetry remains at the end, small camouflage grafts can be used to reduce it.

## Breathing as well as shape

Because the septum is straightened and the valves are supported, breathing on the blocked side usually improves along with the shape.

## Straightening and refining together

If you wish, the shape can be refined in the same operation: lowering a hump, narrowing the bridge, defining the tip. All of this is planned on standardised photographs at the consultation and done in the same operation, with one recovery.

## Is it right for you?

- Your nose is visibly bent to one side, either along its whole length or in a C or S shape.
- The deviation appeared after a fall, a sports injury or a fracture, even years ago.
- One side of your nose is usually blocked.
- A previous operation straightened the inside but the outside still looks crooked.
- You want the nose straightened and the shape refined at the same time.

## How the operation is done

1. Mapping the deviation Dr. Teker identifies which parts are off the midline: the bones, the cartilaginous bridge, the septum or the tip. Each needs a different correction.
2. Straightening the septum A bent septum pulls the whole nose with it, so it is corrected first, keeping a strong straight strip at the front and top for support.
3. Repositioning the bones Controlled cuts, called osteotomies, free the nasal bones so they can be moved back to the midline.
4. Straightening the cartilage Spreader grafts and sutures straighten the middle third of the nose and hold it there, resisting the cartilage’s tendency to bend back.
5. Camouflage and tip Small grafts can be used to even out any remaining asymmetry and the tip is centred. Any aesthetic refinement is done at this stage.
6. Closing and splint A splint holds the newly positioned bones for a week. Internal silicone splints support the septum.

## Recovery, step by step

1. Day 1 Splint on the bridge, some bruising and congestion. Cold compresses help.
2. Week 1 Splints and stitches removed around day 7. The nose is usually visibly straighter, still swollen.
3. Weeks 2–4 Swelling settles; you can return to work. Breathing on the previously blocked side has usually improved.
4. Month 3 The bones are healed. Sports that risk a blow to the nose can resume.
5. Month 12 Final result. A slight residual asymmetry is normal in any face and does not mean the operation failed.

### A note on risks

The general risks of rhinoplasty apply: bleeding, infection, anaesthetic reactions, numbness and small irregularities. Specific to the deviated nose is the tendency of bent cartilage to drift slightly back towards its old position over time, which is why Dr. Teker uses grafts and sutures to hold the new position rather than relying on the cartilage alone. Exact symmetry is not achievable in any face, and a minor residual deviation may remain. A touch-up procedure is occasionally needed.

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

**My nose was broken years ago. Is it too late to straighten it?**

No. Once the bones have healed in a crooked position they can be re-cut and repositioned at any age. Old fractures are one of the most common reasons for this operation.

**Is a deviated nose the same as a deviated septum?**

Not quite. A deviated septum is inside the nose and affects breathing. A deviated nose is a visible bend of the outside. They often occur together and are usually corrected together.

**Will my nose be completely straight?**

The aim is a nose that is clearly straighter and sits on the midline. Every face is slightly asymmetric, so Dr. Teker aims for a nose that looks straight in a normal photograph rather than for geometric symmetry.

**Can the shape be improved at the same time?**

Yes. A hump, a wide bridge or a bulbous tip can be refined in the same operation if you wish.

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. Stepnick D, Guyuron B. Surgical Treatment of the Crooked Nose. Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2010;37(2):313‑325. [doi:10.1016/j.cps.2009.12.001](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cps.2009.12.001).
2. 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).

Medically reviewed by Op. Dr. Cenk Teker, 26 October 2026

## Articles on this subject

[Crooked Nose Surgery · 6 min read A crooked nose after an injury: the first days, and straightening it later What to do in the first days after a blow to the nose, which signs need urgent help, why the septum bends too, and how a crooked nose is corrected later. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/blog/crooked-nose-after-an-injury/) [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/)

## Related procedures

[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/) [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/) [Rhinoplasty Revision Rhinoplasty Correcting the shape or breathing after a previous nose operation, usually by rebuilding support with your own cartilage. Careful analysis first, surgery only when it can help. Read more](https://www.drcenkteker.com/en/procedures/revision-rhinoplasty/)

[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/)