Shruti Haasan’s nose surgery: a broken nose, a deviated septum and her own words

What did Shruti Haasan say about her nose surgery?

The actress spoke about it in an interview with Hauterfly magazine in October 2022, and her words were carried by the IANS news agency and Onmanorama. She said: “I did get my nose fixed and it was very obvious I got my nose fixed. My nose was broken and quite different from before and I did my first film with my old nose.”

She also answered people who claimed the medical reason was just an excuse: “No, I did have a deviated septum, it hurt. But if I could make it prettier, it’s my face, why wouldn’t I? It was that simple.”

That is all we rely on here. Shruti Haasan did not describe the technique, the surgeon or the recovery, so we do not guess at them. In the same interview she also mentioned fillers and said such decisions are each person’s own choice; this article covers only the nose. Where the text below explains methods and timelines, it describes septorhinoplasty in general, not her treatment.

A medical reason and a personal choice, said out loud

What makes her answer unusual is its honesty on both counts. She named a real medical problem — a broken nose and a deviated septum that hurt — and did not pretend that appearance played no part. Surgeons see this combination every day: a septum bent after an injury narrows the airway, and the same injury often changes the outer shape of the nose.

Her point also helps anyone who feels they must choose between “medical” and “cosmetic”. In practice one operation, a septorhinoplasty, can correct both the inside and the outside of the nose, and a good surgeon plans both at the same consultation.

How septorhinoplasty is done today

The septum is the wall of cartilage and bone between the two nasal passages. In a septorhinoplasty (also called rhinoseptoplasty) the surgeon straightens the septum to restore airflow and, in the same operation, corrects the bones and cartilage that shape the nose. The operation is done under general anaesthesia or TIVA (total intravenous anaesthesia), using either a closed technique with incisions inside the nose or an open technique with a small incision on the columella between the nostrils. An ultrasonic piezo device can be used for precise work on the bones.

Before surgery, City Medical Centre uses 3D modelling to show the expected result, so the patient and the surgeon agree on the shape in advance.

Who is a candidate and how to prepare

Septorhinoplasty is usually discussed when:

• the nose was broken and breathing on one side has been harder ever since;
• a doctor has diagnosed a deviated septum;
• there is congestion, snoring or mouth breathing without an allergy explaining it;
• the outer shape of the nose changed after an injury.

The optimal age range is 18–45; older patients can be operated on if their health allows. Preparation starts about 21 days before surgery: a complete blood count, biochemistry, a coagulation panel, infection tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and an X-ray or CT scan of the sinuses. Blood-thinning drugs are stopped only with your doctor’s approval, alcohol and smoking a week before, and the last food and drink is 6 hours before the operation. You will also need class 2 compression stockings.

Recovery step by step

You spend the first 24 hours in the clinic’s inpatient unit. For the first three days splints in the nostrils mean breathing through the mouth, and swelling and bruising are possible. The nasal splints are removed on day 7; the external splint stays for up to 14 days, when the stitches also come out. For a month there is no exercise, sauna, pool, hot baths or sunbathing. Mild congestion can last 1–1.5 months, the first improvements show after 2–3 weeks, full healing takes about 4 months and the final shape settles in 1–1.5 years. Possible risks include swelling, bruising, infection, bleeding, temporary breathing problems and minor asymmetry.

1. Day of surgeryGeneral anaesthesia or TIVA; the first 24 hours are spent in the inpatient unit.
2. Days 1–3Mouth breathing because of the nasal splints; swelling and bruising are possible.
3. Day 7The splints inside the nose are removed.
4. Day 14The external splint comes off and the stitches are removed.
5. Weeks 2–6First improvements after 2–3 weeks; mild congestion can last up to 1.5 months.
6. About 4 monthsTissues have largely healed.
7. 1–1.5 yearsThe final shape of the nose is settled.

Septorhinoplasty at City Medical Centre

City Medical Centre is a multi-specialty surgery clinic. The first consultation is free and can begin online for patients from other countries; the exact cost is named after an in-person examination and fixed in the contract. Current prices: rhinoseptoplasty $5,000, reconstructive rhinoseptoplasty $4,700, reconstructive surgery with a rib cartilage graft from $5,400, primary rhinoplasty $4,200 and revision rhinoplasty $5,400. After surgery the check-up is free, and a personal coordinator supports you throughout. More details are on the rhinoplasty page.

To be clear: City Medical Centre has no connection with Shruti Haasan or her treatment. Her story is simply a well-known example of a woman who talked openly about fixing a broken nose.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Shruti Haasan have nose surgery?

She said her nose had been broken and she had a deviated septum that hurt. She added that if the operation could also make her nose prettier, it was her face and her choice.

When did Shruti Haasan have the operation?

She said it was after her first film, which she made with her old nose. She did not give an exact date in the interview quoted by the press.

What is the difference between rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty?

Rhinoplasty changes the outer shape of the nose. Septorhinoplasty also straightens the septum inside the nose to improve breathing, so it treats a functional problem and the shape in one operation.

How much does septorhinoplasty cost at City Medical Centre?

Rhinoseptoplasty costs $5,000, and primary rhinoplasty $4,200. The final price is confirmed after an in-person examination and fixed in the contract; the first consultation is free.

When will breathing improve after septorhinoplasty?

The first improvements usually appear after 2–3 weeks. Mild congestion can last up to 1.5 months while the swelling inside the nose settles.