Functional Rhinoplasty & Rhinitis-Related Nose Surgery

This functional rhinoplasty event looks at breathing problems like a crooked nose, deviated septum, rhinitis and nasal valve narrowing together with the shape of your nose. The inner structure and the outer line of the nose are connected, so the clinic first pins down the cause through an ENT collaborative consultation, then plans breathing function and appearance together.

Who it's for

• You keep getting a blocked nose on one side, or your nostrils take turns getting blocked
• You tend to breathe through your mouth, snore, or have trouble breathing while you sleep
• Your congestion keeps coming back even with rhinitis medication
• Your nose looks crooked from the front, or you're bothered by a hump or an asymmetric bridge
• The inner support structure of your nose has weakened after a previous nose surgery, making breathing harder

How it works

1. Symptom check and internal nasal examThe doctor checks your congestion pattern, rhinitis symptoms, and any history of injury or previous surgery, then examines the inside of your nose.
2. Detailed testingIf needed, nasal endoscopy and 3D-CT are used to get a three-dimensional look at the direction and degree of the septal deviation, nasal valve narrowing, turbinate enlargement, accompanying conditions like sinusitis, and the structure of the nasal bones and cartilage.
3. Identifying the cause and planning surgeryThe scope of surgery is set by working out whether the congestion comes from the septum, the nasal valve, the inferior turbinates or rhinitis. For a crooked nose, the plan considers the septum, the direction of the nasal bones and the nasal valve space together.
4. Functional correction and nose line refinementSeptoplasty, nasal valve correction, and rhinitis/turbinate surgery are performed as needed, and if you want, cosmetic correction of a crooked nose or hump can be done at the same time. Nasal valve correction typically widens the upper part of the nasal passage using septal cartilage or reinforces the alar cartilage.
5. Surgical principlesAt least 1 cm of the L-shaped strut that supports the tip and bridge of the nose is preserved, and the mucosa is carefully separated so both sides aren't damaged at the same spot at the same time.
6. Anesthesia and follow-upA board-certified anesthesiologist handles anesthesia one-on-one, and your progress is monitored through recovery after surgery.

What's included

• Functional rhinoplasty, 1 session
• ENT collaborative consultation

Price includes VAT and applies during the clinic's event period. Additional costs may apply depending on the scope of surgery (whether septal, nasal valve or rhinitis surgery is combined, and whether cosmetic correction is included) and the materials used; the final price is confirmed at the consultation after testing.

From surgery day to recovery

1. Before surgeryNasal endoscopy and 3D-CT check the inside of your nose, and blood tests and an ECG confirm you're fit for anesthesia.
2. Surgery daySurgery goes ahead once the scope is set. Nasal valve correction is described as allowing same-day discharge, but discharge plans may vary depending on whether septal or rhinitis surgery is combined, so confirm the schedule at your consultation.
3. Right after surgerySwelling, hemostatic packing and mucosal healing may temporarily make your nose feel even more blocked.
4. 1–2 weeksMajor swelling and discomfort gradually ease. As internal swelling goes down and the mucosa settles, breathing gradually gets easier.
5. Several monthsIf you also had cosmetic correction, residual swelling slowly subsides over several months. If you have constitutional factors like allergic rhinitis, you may still need medication or lifestyle management after surgery.

Aftercare

• Your progress is monitored through recovery, with aftercare to help prevent problems like inflammation.
• If you have constitutional factors such as allergic rhinitis, medication and lifestyle management continue after surgery.

Medical team and clinic

Head physician Dr. Go Guk-jin, a board-certified otolaryngologist (ENT specialist), personally handles consultation, diagnosis and surgery, and works with a board-certified plastic surgeon to address both function and shape. A board-certified anesthesiologist is on site, and the operating room has CCTV. The internal structure and external line of the nose are analyzed together based on 3D-CT and nasal endoscopy. The clinic is in Seocho-gu, within walking distance of Gangnam Station Exit 10 and Sinnonhyeon Station Exit 7. If you need an interpreter, ask about language availability when you book.

Side effects and precautions

• Bleeding, infection or inflammation can occur after surgery, so follow the clinic's instructions.
• Removing too much septal cartilage can cause a saddle nose deformity where the bridge collapses, so correction is done in a way that preserves the support strut.
• If the mucosa on both sides is damaged at the same spot, a septal perforation (a hole in the septum) can form, which may cause dryness inside the nose, crusting, recurring nosebleeds or a whistling sound.
• If the septum is severely deviated or there are also nasal bone, nasal valve or turbinate problems, and the causes aren't fully corrected, congestion may remain or return.
• The internal structure of the nose can be affected again by growth-related changes, injury, inflammation or lifestyle habits.
• If cartilage is lacking due to previous surgery, the amount of usable septal cartilage is limited, so ear or rib cartilage may also be considered.

FAQ