Nasal Bones

The paired nasal bones form the upper third of the nose. A significant portion of the dorsal hump originates here. Correcting the bony dorsum requires osteotomy (medial, lateral, or intermediate); piezo ultrasonic technology achieves this while protecting the periosteum and soft tissue.

Upper Lateral Cartilages (ULC)

The ULCs support the middle third of the nose and fuse with the nasal septum, forming the "middle vault." When the dorsal hump is removed, the middle vault can collapse inward; spreader grafts are placed here to maintain width and prevent a pinched mid-nose appearance.

Lower Lateral Cartilages (LLC / Alar Cartilages)

The LLCs — each consisting of a medial and lateral crus — define the nasal tip and alar rims. Tip projection, rotation, and symmetry are all determined by how these cartilages are repositioned, sutured, or supported with grafts such as a columellar strut or shield graft.

Nasal Septum

The septum divides the nose into two chambers and provides structural support for the nasal dorsum and tip. A deviated septum impairs breathing. Crucially, septal cartilage is the primary graft source for spreader grafts, shield grafts, and septal extension grafts — harvested while maintaining structural integrity.

Columella and Nasolabial Angle

The columella is the bridge of skin between the nostrils. The nasolabial angle — between the nasal base and the upper lip — targets 90–115° in women and 90–105° in men for ideal aesthetics. This angle governs perceived tip rotation and lower facial balance.

Alar Base and Nostrils

The alar base width is evaluated against facial proportions. When the nostrils are disproportionately wide, alar base reduction (Weir incision) removes a small ellipse of tissue; the incision is hidden at the alar-cheek junction and becomes nearly invisible with healing.

Open Rhinoplasty

A small incision is made across the columella (typically V- or W-shaped), allowing the nasal skin to be elevated and the entire cartilage framework to be viewed and worked on under direct vision. This is the most precise approach for complex reshaping.

Best for: Complex tip refinement, asymmetry correction, graft placement, revision rhinoplasty. The columellar scar is small, heals extremely well, and fades to near-imperceptibility within 12–18 months.

Closed (Endonasal) Rhinoplasty

All incisions are made inside the nostrils — completely invisible externally. Recovery time is shorter, swelling resolves more quickly, and no external scarring results.

Best for: Isolated dorsal hump reduction, mild tip adjustment, alar base narrowing where full exposure is not required. Limited visualisation makes this less suitable for complex structural reconstruction.

Preservation Rhinoplasty

Rather than excising the dorsal hump, this contemporary approach uses "push-down" or "let-down" manoeuvres to lower the entire osseocartilaginous framework while preserving the dorsal integrity. The native keystone area and middle vault remain intact.

Advantages: Less tissue disruption, reduced swelling and bruising, faster social recovery, and a more natural dorsal profile without the risk of an "over-done" appearance. According to Op. Dr. Necdet Urhan, preservation rhinoplasty is the first-choice technique when the anatomy permits it.

Piezo (Ultrasonic) Rhinoplasty

Piezoelectric instruments use ultrasonic vibration to cut bone selectively — the frequency is calibrated to affect only mineralised tissue while leaving soft tissue, mucosa, and periosteum entirely intact. The result is more controlled osteotomies with significantly less haemorrhage and post-operative bruising.

Best for: Thin-skinned patients (where any irregularity is visible), asymmetric bony deviation requiring precise correction, and patients for whom minimising bruising and downtime is a priority.

Dorsal Hump

The bony-cartilaginous protrusion visible in profile is the most common rhinoplasty request. It is addressed via preservation (push/let-down) or conventional resection followed by middle vault support with spreader grafts to prevent mid-nose pinching.

Nasal Tip Refinement

A bulbous, drooping, asymmetric, or under-projecting tip is corrected by reshaping the lower lateral cartilages. Columellar strut grafts establish tip projection; shield grafts define the tip contour; alar sutures refine the lobule shape and width.

Wide or Asymmetric Nostrils

When alar base width exceeds facial proportions, a Weir resection removes a small ellipse of tissue at the alar-cheek junction. The incision is well-hidden and heals to near-invisibility. Asymmetric nostrils may require differential resection on each side.

Deviated Septum and Breathing

Septoplasty (straightening the nasal septum) and inferior turbinate reduction can be performed simultaneously with rhinoplasty — delivering both visual and functional improvement under a single anaesthesia. This is termed "functional rhinoplasty."

Augmentation Rhinoplasty

A flat, low-profile, or short nose requires building up the dorsum and/or increasing tip projection using the patient's own cartilage (septal, auricular, or costal rib). Autologous grafts are strongly preferred over alloplastic implants for long-term safety and biocompatibility.

Revision (Secondary) Rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty corrects the results of a prior operation — whether due to insufficient correction, over-resection, asymmetry, or breathing impairment. Scarred tissues and depleted cartilage stocks make this technically demanding; additional graft material from the ear or ribs is frequently required. Op. Dr. Urhan recommends waiting at minimum 12 months after the primary procedure.

Stage 1 — Personal Analysis and Digital Planning

Facial proportions, skin thickness, cartilage and bone anatomy, ethnic background, and breathing function are comprehensively assessed. Morphing software is used to visualise the target result — a shared communication tool, not a guarantee of the surgical outcome.

Stage 2 — Pre-operative Preparation

Blood thinners and omega-3 supplements are stopped 2 weeks before surgery. Smoking should cease at minimum 3 weeks prior. General anaesthesia requires 8 hours of fasting. Full pre-operative blood work and health clearance are completed.

Stage 3 — Surgery (Average 2–3 Hours)

Under general anaesthesia, the planned technique is executed: dorsal management (preservation or reduction), osteotomy for bony width correction, graft harvest and placement, tip refinement, and alar base adjustment if needed. Duration varies with the complexity of planned manoeuvres.

Stage 4 — Splint and Packing

Internal silicone splints or absorbable packing and an external thermoplastic splint are applied. Internal packs are removed at day 3–7; the external splint is removed at day 7–10. Some patients — particularly with preservation techniques — require no packing at all.

Stage 5 — Splint Removal and Early Result

Removing the splint at day 7–10 reveals the nose for the first time — an exciting moment, but the shape seen still reflects early swelling. The final result emerges fully at 12–18 months. Op. Dr. Urhan walks every patient through the full healing timeline so expectations are clearly calibrated.

Facial Development Complete

Nasal development is largely complete by age 17 in women and 18 in men. Elective rhinoplasty is not recommended before these ages. Severe functional problems (significant septal deviation) may be addressed earlier in exceptional circumstances.

Aesthetic and/or Functional Concern

Good candidates include those bothered by a dorsal hump, bulbous or drooping tip, wide nostrils, nasal asymmetry, or chronic nasal obstruction — whether individually or in combination.

Good General Health

Chronic conditions should be optimised; smoking must be stopped well in advance; blood-thinning medications require pre-operative adjustment. Full pre-operative health assessment is mandatory before general anaesthesia.

Realistic Expectations

Rhinoplasty aims to create a nose that harmonises with the patient's own face — not to replicate someone else's nose. Skin thickness, healing biology, and anatomy all influence the final result. Patients seeking a specific celebrity's nose, or those showing signs of body dysmorphic disorder, require careful counselling before proceeding.

Readiness for the Recovery Process

Rhinoplasty has one of the longest aesthetic recovery timelines — up to 18 months for final tip definition. Candidates should be willing to comply with activity restrictions, sun protection, glasses avoidance, and follow-up appointments throughout this period.

Contraindications

Active nasal or skin infection, uncontrolled diabetes, keloid tendency, suspected body dysmorphic disorder, or recent prior nasal surgery (within 12 months) are factors requiring careful assessment before planning proceeds.

Permanent Structural Change

Unlike fillers that dissolve within months, rhinoplasty reshapes bone and cartilage permanently. Once healing is complete, the result is lasting without maintenance treatments.

Aesthetic + Functional in One

Correcting both the appearance and the airway in a single procedure means one anaesthetic, one recovery period, and one outcome — simultaneously eliminating aesthetic and functional concerns.

Improved Facial Harmony

As the most central feature of the face, the nose has an outsized influence on overall facial proportions. A well-proportioned nose draws attention to the eyes and improves the balance of the entire face.

Reduced Bruising with Piezo

Piezoelectric osteotomy produces significantly less peri-orbital bruising and swelling compared to traditional osteotomy. Patients who cannot afford extended downtime particularly benefit from this approach.

Boost in Confidence

Greater satisfaction with facial appearance translates directly into improved self-confidence in social, professional, and personal contexts. Many patients describe the reduction in nasal airway obstruction as equally transformative.

Competitive Pricing in Antalya

Rhinoplasty in Antalya offers international patients access to experienced, certified surgeons at a fraction of the cost in Western Europe or North America — without compromising surgical standards.

Prominent Ear Correction (Otoplasty)

Nose and ear position are both prominent features assessed as part of overall facial balance. Combining corrections in one session maximises the aesthetic impact. Prominent Ear Aesthetics →

Eyelid Aesthetics (Blepharoplasty)

Improving the upper face alongside nasal refinement creates a more comprehensive upper-mid face transformation. Eyelid Aesthetics →

Facial Fat Transfer

Volume deficiency around the nose and midface may be addressed with autologous fat transfer in the same session, complementing nasal refinement with soft-tissue balance. Facial Fat Transfer →

Chin Shaping (Chinoplasty)

Chin projection and nasal tip position define the lateral facial profile together. A recessed chin makes the nose appear larger; combined correction restores proportional balance. Chin Shaping →

EBOPRAS Certification

European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery certification confirms adherence to the highest European standards — covering both aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty expertise.

ISAPS Membership

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery membership reflects ongoing engagement with the latest evidence-based techniques and global ethical standards in aesthetic practice.

Focused on Facial Aesthetics

Op. Dr. Urhan focuses exclusively on facial aesthetics. Rhinoplasty is evaluated as part of total facial balance — alongside chin, eyes, ears, and midface — not in isolation.

Multi-Technique Proficiency

Proficiency in all four major rhinoplasty approaches — open, closed, preservation, and piezo — means the technique is chosen to fit the anatomy, not the anatomy forced to fit a preferred technique.

International Patient Pathway

Located in Muratpaşa, Antalya, the clinic offers a structured pathway for international patients: online assessment, in-clinic examination, surgery, and video follow-up. Multilingual support is available throughout.

18-Month Follow-up Commitment

Given rhinoplasty's extended healing timeline, Op. Dr. Urhan's clinic maintains structured follow-up through the full 18-month maturation period — not just the first post-operative week.

Prolonged Swelling

Tip swelling may persist up to 18 months, particularly in thick-skinned patients. This is expected, not a complication — patience is required before the final result can be judged.

Asymmetry

Mild asymmetry during healing is normal. Persistent, clinically significant asymmetry may require revision. Thin-skinned patients are more susceptible to visible cartilage irregularities.

Breathing Change

Rarely, internal valve narrowing or nasal collapse can occur after rhinoplasty. Maintaining structural cartilage support throughout the procedure is the primary preventive measure.

Infection

Antibiotic prophylaxis minimises infection risk substantially. Any signs of increasing redness, warmth, or purulent discharge should be reported immediately.

Open Roof / Residual Hump

Over-resection creates an "open roof" deformity (visible flat dorsum); under-resection leaves a residual hump. Correct middle vault support with spreader grafts prevents both. Preservation rhinoplasty eliminates this risk by avoiding resection entirely.

Revision Need

Rhinoplasty has a higher revision rate than many other aesthetic procedures (reported at 5–15%). This underscores the importance of choosing an experienced, certified surgeon from the outset.