Open Rhinoplasty

What open rhinoplasty means

Open and closed rhinoplasty reach the same structures: the nasal bones, the cartilage and the septum. The difference is the doorway. In the open approach the surgeon makes the incisions inside the nostrils plus one small cut across the columella, then turns the skin back. The whole framework stands exposed in front of the surgeon, which is why this approach is also called external rhinoplasty.

That direct view costs a few millimetres of visible skin work: the columella incision heals as a tiny line that usually becomes hard to notice over time.

When the open approach is chosen

The open technique is picked when the nose needs substantial rebuilding: a heavily deviated septum, complex work on the nasal tip, major asymmetries, or a second operation where the anatomy has already been altered. Seeing the framework without distortion lets the surgeon place grafts and sutures exactly.

For simpler reductions and straightening, a closed operation can be enough. Which approach fits your nose is decided at the consultation after the surgeon examines the structures and discusses the plan; both are performed at our centre.

Surgery is postponed while there are active nasal infections or conditions that make anaesthesia unsafe. Smokers are asked to stop before the date, because nicotine slows the healing of skin flaps. There are contraindications, and the doctor decides whether surgery suits you after the examination and tests; the first consultation is free and can start online.

Preparation is the standard rhinoplasty set: tests and the anaesthetist's review, pausing the medicines on the surgeon's list, and quitting smoking early, since nicotine narrows the vessels that feed the skin flaps. On the day the columella line is drawn and photographed before anything begins, and the signed plan travels with you into the operating room.

How the operation runs

Open rhinoplasty is performed under general anaesthesia and takes 1.5 to 3 hours depending on complexity. After surgery you spend the first 24 hours under observation in the inpatient unit of the clinic. Internal splints support the nose while the healing starts; you leave the clinic the next day with written aftercare instructions and a follow-up schedule.

Recovery after open rhinoplasty

• Day 7. Splints are removed at the first check-up.
• Day 14. The cast and external stitches come off; most bruising fades around this point.
• Weeks to months. Swelling keeps settling; the tip is the last to lose it.
• About 4 months. Main healing is complete for most patients.
• Later check-ups. Follow-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months track the settling shape.

The final contour of the nose is judged at the later visits, once the tissues have fully settled; the surgeon tells you what to expect for your specific case.

Open vs closed: the practical difference

A closed rhinoplasty leaves no external incision and usually causes less swelling, but the surgeon reshapes with a limited view. An open rhinoplasty gives full exposure at the cost of the columella line and a little more swelling. Patients whose main request is tip work, revision after a previous operation, or correction of marked asymmetry usually benefit from the open view; simpler cases may not need it. The surgeon explains the trade-off for your nose at the consultation.

Ask what the open view will change in your case: which structures will be rebuilt with grafts, how the tip will project in profile, and what the plan is if healing behaves unpredictably. A precise answer to the last question tells you more than any before-and-after folder.

Open rhinoplasty price

Rhinoplasty at our medical centre costs from $4,200 ($6,000 without the current discount), whatever approach the surgeon chooses. The price includes the operation, the day in the inpatient unit and the follow-up visits; the exact figure is fixed in the contract after the free consultation. Coordinators answer in Telegram and WhatsApp around the clock and will help you send photos for the first assessment.

Open rhinoplasty, from consultation to settled result

1. Step 1. Free consultationThe surgeon examines the nose, agrees the plan and the approach, and fixes the price in the contract.
2. Step 2. TestsPre-operative work-up and booking of the surgery date.
3. Surgery dayGeneral anaesthesia; 1.5–3 hours of surgery; internal splints are placed.
4. First 24 hoursObservation in the inpatient unit, then discharge.
5. Day 7Splints removed at the check-up.
6. Day 14Cast and external stitches come off; bruising fades.
7. Months 3–6Swelling settles, about 4 months to main healing; check-ups at 3 and 6 months.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between open and closed rhinoplasty?

Closed rhinoplasty works only through incisions inside the nostrils. Open rhinoplasty adds a small cut across the columella and lifts the skin, giving the surgeon a direct view of the whole framework.

Will the incision leave a visible scar?

The columella cut heals as a small line under the nose that usually becomes hard to notice with time; the surgeon shows you healed cases at the consultation.

How much does open rhinoplasty cost?

From $4,200 ($6,000 without the discount), including the operation, the day in the inpatient unit and follow-ups. The exact figure is fixed in the contract after the free consultation.

How long does the operation take?

1.5 to 3 hours under general anaesthesia, depending on complexity. You then spend the first 24 hours under observation in the clinic.

When can I show my face in public?

The splints come off on day 7 and the cast on day 14, after which bruising fades quickly. Residual swelling settles over the following months.

When is the final result visible?

Main healing takes about 4 months, and the tip keeps refining afterwards. The surgeon judges the settled shape at the check-ups at 3 and 6 months.

Related procedures

• Closed rhinoplasty without external incision
• Revision rhinoplasty
• Rhinoplasty: plans, prices, consultation