Rhinoplasty — a “nose job” — reshapes the bone and cartilage of the nose to bring it into balance with the rest of the face, and can correct breathing problems at the same time. The surgery we arrange in Istanbul is built on one principle: the nose should suit your face and function well, not look operated.
Istanbul is one of the world’s leading centres for rhinoplasty, with surgeons who perform a very high volume of nose surgery. At the accredited partner hospitals we work with, rhinoplasty is carried out by board-certified surgeons using modern structural techniques that preserve and support the nose rather than simply removing from it.
What rhinoplasty can change
- A dorsal hump or bump on the bridge
- A drooping, bulbous or over-projected tip
- Width of the bridge or nostrils
- A crooked nose or one thrown off-centre by injury
- Breathing difficulty, when combined with septal work (see septorhinoplasty)
It is planned around your face — the same nose does not suit everyone, which is why a good surgeon designs the result to your proportions rather than to a template.
Open vs closed rhinoplasty
| Closed | Open | |
|---|---|---|
| Incisions | Inside the nostrils only | Inside + a tiny columella incision |
| Visible scar | None | Tiny, fades to near-invisible |
| Access | Good for refinements | Full access for complex reshaping |
| Swelling | Slightly less | Slightly more, settles over months |
Neither is “better” — they are tools. Your surgeon chooses based on what your nose needs, and explains why.
Who is a good candidate
Rhinoplasty suits you if you are in good general health, your facial growth is complete (generally 18+), and you have a clear, realistic idea of what you want to change. If your concern is mainly breathing, a functional component (septorhinoplasty) is planned in. If you have had previous nose surgery, that is revision rhinoplasty, a more complex operation. An honest surgeon will set expectations clearly and decline to over-promise.
The procedure, step by step
- Consultation and planning. Your nose and face are assessed, breathing checked, the approach chosen and a plan agreed. Photographs and sometimes simulation aid the discussion.
- Anaesthesia. Performed under general anaesthesia in an accredited hospital with full anaesthetic cover.
- Reshaping. Through internal (closed) or internal-plus-columella (open) incisions, the bone and cartilage are reshaped, refined and supported with the nose’s own cartilage where grafts are needed.
- Splinting. An external cast supports the new shape; internal splints are sometimes used. The operation usually takes 2–3 hours.
Recovery timeline
- Week 1: Congestion and pressure; bruising around the eyes. The cast and any splints come off around day 7.
- Weeks 2–3: Most bruising and visible swelling fade; you look presentable.
- Months 1–3: Bridge swelling settles; the shape becomes clearer.
- Months 6–18: The tip — the slowest area — continues to refine; the one-year result is essentially final.
Risks and side effects
Rhinoplasty carries the usual surgical risks plus the possibility of asymmetry, a breathing change, or a result that needs minor revision later. Choosing a high-volume, board-certified rhinoplasty surgeon in an accredited hospital is the single biggest factor in a good outcome — the standard we hold our partners to. The ISAPS and BAAPS publish independent patient guidance worth reading first.
Cost of rhinoplasty in Turkey
Rhinoplasty in Istanbul starts at an indicative €2,500, rising with complexity — a tip refinement costs less than a full reshaping or a case needing cartilage grafts or revision. As with all surgery here, the figure is a starting range rather than a fixed quote; your firm price follows a surgeon’s review of your case. Compare indicative all-inclusive prices across every procedure in the plastic surgery cost guide.
Why Alpha Clinic
Alpha Clinic Turkey has coordinated aesthetic care in Istanbul since 2012, matching patients to board-certified partner surgeons in accredited hospitals, with a written plan you approve and structured aftercare. Send photos through the free consultation for an honest assessment, explore ethnic, functional and revision rhinoplasty, or see the full range on the plastic surgery hub.