Rhinoplasty vs septoplasty is basically a question of looks versus breathing. Rhinoplasty is the one that works on the outside, reshaping the nose for how it looks, although it can help your breathing as well. Septoplasty is about what’s inside, where a bent wall of cartilage and bone, the septum, can block airflow, and it doesn’t normally change how your nose looks. Plenty of people need both, and then the surgeon does them in one go, which is called septorhinoplasty.

According to Dr. Monisha Kapoor, aPlastic Surgeon in Saket, Delhi, “Plenty of patients walk in asking for a nose job, and then the examination shows a deviated septum that’s been blocking one side for years. It happens the other way round too. So I always check the inside of the nose as well as the outside. What you want, how you breathe and what we find on examination decide the operation, not the name you walked in with.”

Not sure if you need rhinoplasty, septoplasty or both? Get a clear answer from Dr. Monisha Kapoor after an examination. Enquire Now

How Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty Differ

• Purpose: rhinoplasty is there to change the shape or size of the nose. Septoplasty is there to straighten a bent septum so air can get through.
• Where the work happens: rhinoplasty works on the bone, cartilage and skin you can see from outside. Septoplasty is done on the inside, through cuts inside the nose, so nothing shows on the skin.
• Whether the look changes: rhinoplasty is meant to change it. Septoplasty usually doesn’t, although a small change in shape is possible.
• How it’s seen: rhinoplasty is usually a cosmetic operation, and septoplasty is considered a functional, medical one.

Our Nose page explains how the nose is assessed for both shape and breathing before a plan is made.

Septoplasty vs Rhinoplasty: Which One Do You Need?

• Septoplasty, if you’re stuffed up on one side all the time, snore or sleep badly, and the examination shows a bent septum that tablets and sprays haven’t sorted out.
• Rhinoplasty, if you’re unhappy with the hump, the tip, the width or the profile, and your breathing is fine.
• Both together, as septorhinoplasty, if the nose is crooked and you struggle to breathe. The septum’s cartilage is also often used to support or reshape the nose.
• Not sure? Only an examination, often with a look inside the nose, will tell. Nasal sprays can calm inflammation, but they can’t straighten a septum.

If your concern is only a small bump or dip and your breathing is fine, non-surgical shaping with fillers may be discussed, and our Neurotoxin and Fillers page explains what that can and can’t do.

What Decides Between Rhinoplasty and Septoplasty?

• Your main complaint, whether it’s breathing, looks or both.
• What the examination shows inside the nose, such as how bent the septum is.
• How the outside of the nose looks, including the hump, tip and width.
• Whether both problems are present and need to be fixed in one go.
• Your general health, and whether medicines have been tried for the blockage.

Key Takeaways

• Rhinoplasty is about looks; septoplasty is about breathing.
• Because septoplasty is done from inside, you usually won’t see a scar or a change in shape.
• Septorhinoplasty combines both when you need better breathing and a better shape.
• Rhinoplasty and septoplasty difference comes down to the goal, not the name of the surgery.
• An examination of the inside and outside of the nose decides which one you need.

FAQs

1. Is septoplasty just another name for a nose job?
   No. When people say nose job they usually mean rhinoplasty, which reshapes the outside. Septoplasty straightens the wall inside the nose so you can breathe better, and your nose won’t normally look any different afterwards.
2. Will septoplasty change how my nose looks?
   Usually not, since everything happens inside. There’s a small chance the shape shifts a little, so if looks matter to you, say so before surgery and the plan can cover both.
3. Is rhinoplasty or septoplasty the longer recovery?
   Rhinoplasty usually takes longer to settle, because the outside of the nose swells and a splint stays on for about a week. Septoplasty is generally quicker, though your nose can feel blocked for a while as it heals.
4. Will my insurance pay for septoplasty or rhinoplasty?
   If septoplasty is for a medical reason, like a blocked airway, it may be covered. Rhinoplasty done just for looks usually isn’t. Every policy is different, so check yours and ask the surgeon’s office which papers you’ll need.

References

1. Septoplasty, StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567718/

Disclaimer

The information shared in this content is for educational purposes and not for promotional use. It does not replace a consultation with a qualified doctor.