Frequently Asked Questions

Rhinoplasty requires the nose to have finished growing; this is usually after about 16–17 in women and 18 in men. Alongside age, general health and realistic expectations of the operation are also assessed.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

The operation takes 2–3 hours on average under general anaesthesia, with one night in hospital. Silicone packs are placed inside the nose and a splint outside; both are removed at the check-up 6–7 days later.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

Most people can return to work or school after 7–10 days. Swelling and bruising peak on days 2–3 and have largely eased by the end of the first week; heavy lifting, bending forward and strenuous work are not advised during this period.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

Glasses should not rest directly on the bridge of the nose for 4–6 weeks. The return to sport is gradual: apart from light walking, exercise is not advised for the first two weeks; full training usually resumes from week 6 and contact sports after 6–8 weeks. Sources advise waiting between 7 days and 2 weeks before flying, and unnecessary flights are avoided in the first month. Your personal timeline is set by the surgeon who performs the operation.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

Most of the swelling settles within the first month, but the nose takes about a year to reach its final shape; its appearance in the first months does not show the final result. The changes made are permanent; the natural changes of the face with age can also affect the nose to some degree.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

In the closed technique all incisions are inside the nose, there is no external scar and swelling is usually less; however, it is not always suitable for major changes in shape or for revisions. In the open technique a small incision is made on the column between the nostrils (columella); it is preferred for marked deviations and fractures and in revision operations. The technique is chosen at the consultation according to the structure of the nose.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

Ideally, at least a year is allowed after the first operation for the nose to settle fully; rarely, an intervention may be needed at the earliest after 6 months, and this decision is made by the surgeon. Because the tissues have been operated on before, planning is more detailed, and if cartilage is needed it may be taken from the ear or a rib.

More detail: Revision rhinoplasty.

For the first weeks, sleeping on your back with your head raised on a few pillows is advised; this helps the swelling around the eyes go down sooner. Sleeping face down, which would press on the nose, is avoided. When you can sleep on your side is decided at the check-up according to how the nose is healing.

Every nose is planned individually; in men the aim is usually a straighter bridge and a tip that is not too upturned, keeping the masculine character of the face.

Septoplasty corrects a deviation of the central wall that divides the two sides of the nose. It is done under general anaesthesia, mostly from inside the nose, and takes about 30 minutes on average; you go home the same day or the next day. The packs inside the nose are removed a few days later, and most people return to work after about a week.

More detail: Septoplasty.

It is recommended for chronic nasal blockage in which enlarged turbinates narrow the airway and do not improve with medicines or sprays. It is done with methods such as radiofrequency, coblation or a microdebrider, usually under general anaesthesia as a day case; full healing usually takes 2–6 weeks.

More detail: Turbinate reduction.

With functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), using a thin camera passed through the nostrils; there is no external incision. The aim is to remove diseased tissue while preserving healthy lining, so that the sinuses can drain and ventilate again. It takes 2–3 hours on average under general anaesthesia, and the return to work is about 10 days.

More detail: Endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

Surgery is considered when weight loss, sleeping position and an oral appliance are not enough, or when snoring is severe. The area that narrows the airway (the nose, soft palate, tonsils or tongue base) is identified at the examination and treatment is planned accordingly.

More detail: Snoring surgery.

Yes. A deviated septum, enlarged turbinates or chronic sinusitis can be corrected in the same session as the cosmetic operation. This is why the inside of the nose is examined with an endoscope before rhinoplasty, with a sinus CT scan if needed.

More detail: Rhinoplasty in Istanbul.

Structural narrowing or weak cartilage in the valve area does not improve with medicines. Medicines can only reduce the accompanying swelling of the lining; a lasting correction requires the valve area to be supported with cartilage.

Snoring surgery is not a single procedure. The examination identifies where the airway narrows; one or more procedures are then combined on the nose (deviation, turbinates), the tonsils, the soft palate or the tongue base.

Most are present from birth or develop during growth; injuries to the nose can also cause a deviation. An existing deviation can increase with age.

No. The most common causes of a feeling of a mass in the nose are polyps and enlarged turbinates. However, masses that are on one side only, cause bloody discharge or keep growing despite treatment need an endoscopic examination and, if necessary, a biopsy.

There is usually mild pain after the operation, controlled with simple painkillers. The main complaint in the first days is a blocked nose.

Enlarged turbinates are treated by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor. An endoscopic examination of the nose assesses both the turbinates and any other causes of the blockage.

Breathing becomes noticeably easier once the packs are removed. Swelling and healing inside the nose take about three weeks; the improvement in breathing increases further after this period.

In most patients, sinusitis symptoms improve markedly. In sinusitis with polyps, polyps can form again over time; regular check-ups and, when needed, medicines that shrink polyps are recommended.

For tumours that can be removed endoscopically, no incision is made on the face and the appearance does not change. Extensive tumours may need open surgery; in that case the possibility of a scar or a change in shape is discussed before the operation.

If you sleep alone, it is hard to notice; a partner’s observation or a sound recording during sleep gives an idea. If there are pauses in breathing during sleep, morning tiredness or daytime sleepiness, an examination and, if needed, a sleep study are recommended.

It could. One of the causes of blockage after rhinoplasty is narrowing of the nasal valve area; a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates can also be the cause. The cause is identified with an endoscopic examination and valve tests.

In most patients, turbinates reduced with radiofrequency stay smaller for a long time. If an underlying cause such as allergy continues, they can swell again over time; medical treatment and, if needed, repeating the procedure are then considered.

Most thyroid nodules are benign; thyroid cancer is found in a small proportion. The diagnosis is made with ultrasound and fine-needle biopsy. Thyroid cancer usually progresses slowly; treatment is planned according to the type and stage, and the main treatment is surgical removal of part or all of the thyroid gland.

More detail: Thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer.

Hoarseness lasting more than three weeks is the most common early sign of laryngeal cancer; hoarseness that has not settled by then needs an ENT examination. The diagnosis is made by endoscopic examination and biopsy. At an early stage, partial operations that preserve the voice can usually be performed.

More detail: Laryngeal tumours.

An ulcer in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks, a white or red patch or a swelling should be examined. Cancers of the mouth, tongue and lip are most often linked to smoking, alcohol and sunlight; the diagnosis is made by examination and biopsy, and the main treatment is surgery.

More detail: Oral cavity, lip and tongue tumours.

It could. Salivary gland tumours are most often found in the parotid gland in front of the ear, and most are benign. The diagnosis is made by examination, ultrasound or MRI and fine-needle biopsy; the main treatment is surgical removal of the tumour while preserving the facial nerve.

More detail: Salivary gland tumours.

It is a mostly benign, slow-growing tumour that develops from small bodies where the carotid artery divides in the neck. It is usually noticed as a painless swelling in the neck; the diagnosis is made with Doppler ultrasound, CT or MRI and imaging of the blood vessels. The main treatment is surgical removal of the tumour while preserving the vessels and nerves.

More detail: Carotid body tumour.

Salivary gland tumours are usually noticed as a painless swelling. Pain in the lump, rapid growth or weakness in the face can suggest a malignant tumour and should be assessed without delay.

Most are benign and grow slowly; about 5–10 per cent can be malignant. Whether it is malignant is usually determined from imaging findings, spread and assessment after surgery.

Most nodules found in the neck or the thyroid gland are benign. Nodules with suspicious features on ultrasound are investigated with fine-needle biopsy; benign nodules are usually followed with regular ultrasound.

Erythroplakia is a flat or slightly raised red patch in the mouth that may bleed when scraped. Because it has a high likelihood of being pre-cancerous or an early cancer, a biopsy is needed for red patches lasting more than two weeks.

The most common first sign is hoarseness lasting more than three weeks; it appears early, especially in cancers that start on the vocal cords. A sore throat that does not go away, pain radiating to the ear on swallowing and a lump in the neck are also signs to watch for.

Temporary facial weakness can occur after the operation and improves within weeks or months in most patients. Permanent facial paralysis is rare; the risk is higher when the tumour surrounds the nerve and is discussed openly before the operation.

It is technically demanding because the tumour is closely attached to the carotid artery and important cranial nerves pass around it. The risks depend on the size of the tumour and are lower for small tumours. For this reason the operation is planned with detailed imaging and, if needed, performed together with vascular surgery.

A hereditary cause is found in a small proportion of thyroid cancers; medullary thyroid cancer in particular can run in families. Genetic screening (RET gene test) is recommended for people with a family history of medullary thyroid cancer.

A sore, hardening or raised area on the tongue lasting more than two weeks should be examined by an ENT specialist. A biopsy is needed for sores that do not heal even after a broken tooth or denture irritation has been corrected.

Partial operations at an early stage preserve the voice; it may be hoarse at first and improves over time in most patients, though it may sound different from before. If the whole larynx is removed, speech is regained with a voice prosthesis or special devices and speech therapy.

No. Most salivary gland tumours, especially those in the parotid gland, are benign. Ultrasound or MRI and fine-needle biopsy are used to identify the type; the definitive diagnosis is made by pathology.

After the operation the voice may be temporarily hoarse or tire quickly; this usually improves. The nerves to the vocal cords are protected during surgery; permanent hoarseness is rare and the risk is discussed before the operation.

Some perforations close on their own. Tympanoplasty is performed for perforations that have not closed within three months or that cause hearing loss or recurrent ear discharge. The operation takes about 2 hours under general anaesthesia; the graft is usually taken from the patient’s own tissue layer behind the ear.

More detail: Tympanoplasty.

Flying is usually postponed for about 2 months after tympanoplasty. You stay in hospital for 1–2 nights and a pack and dressing are placed in the ear canal; children can return to physical education after about 2 weeks.

More detail: Tympanoplasty.

It can be done from the age of 5–6, when the ear has largely finished growing, preferably before starting school. The operation takes 1–2 hours under general anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation, and the child goes home the same day.

More detail: Otoplasty (prominent ear surgery).

Because the incision is on the back of the ear, the scar is usually not visible from the outside; rarely it may thicken.

During the operation the ear cartilage is reshaped with stitches. A head bandage is applied afterwards; the first check-up is about 1 week later.

More detail: Otoplasty (prominent ear surgery).

Tympanoplasty usually takes about 2 hours. It may take longer if the hearing bones need to be repaired or cholesteatoma removed.

Most children return to school after about a week. For a while afterwards, activities in which the ear could be knocked, such as playground games, sport and physical education, should be avoided.

In most patients the result is permanent. The cartilage is shaped with permanent stitches; following the bandage and protection advice during healing helps preserve the result. Rarely, the ear may partly return to its former position and a correction may be needed.

In the first weeks there may be crackling, a feeling of pressure or mild ringing in the ear, which usually lessens with healing. Ringing that was present before the operation may lessen as hearing improves; if it persists or increases, it is assessed at the check-up.

No. Otosclerosis usually progresses slowly over the years, and medicines do not restore hearing that has been lost. Mild loss is monitored with hearing tests; as hearing declines, a hearing aid or stapes surgery is considered.

In the first days hearing is reduced because of the pack in the ear canal. After the pack is removed, hearing improves over weeks; it can take up to three months to settle. The result is assessed with a hearing test at the check-up.

No. If both ears are affected, the ear with poorer hearing is usually operated on first. If needed, the second ear is planned after the result of the first operation is known, usually waiting up to a year.

Both are valid options. A hearing aid carries no surgical risk. Stapes surgery can provide hearing without an aid in the operated ear if the loss is mainly conductive and inner ear function is good. The decision is made together after discussing the hearing tests, the expected benefit and the risks.

Flying is postponed until your surgeon agrees; it is usually not advised in the first weeks. Flying with a cold or a blocked nose should be avoided. For patients travelling from abroad, the return date is discussed when the operation is planned.

It is performed for frequently recurring or chronic tonsillitis, snoring, sleep apnoea or tonsils large enough to make swallowing difficult. It takes about 30 minutes under general anaesthesia and children usually go home the same day; they usually return to school after 10 days.

More detail: Tonsillectomy.

A blocked nose, mouth breathing, snoring and recurrent ear infections are the most common signs. When medical treatment does not help, the adenoids are removed in an operation of about 20 minutes under general anaesthesia; the child goes home the same day and most recover within 2–3 days.

More detail: Adenoidectomy.

A ventilation tube (grommet) is placed in the eardrum when fluid in the middle ear lasts longer than 3 months and causes hearing loss or delayed speech. The procedure takes about 15–20 minutes for both ears under general anaesthesia.

More detail: Middle ear infection and grommets.

Regular snoring and mouth breathing in children are most often linked to enlarged adenoids or tonsils and should be assessed with an ENT examination. The decision on surgery is made by considering how often the symptoms occur, the response to medical treatment and the effect on the child’s sleep, growth and speech development.

More detail: Paediatric ENT.

It depends on the operation: most children recover within 2–3 days after adenoidectomy, while after a tonsillectomy they usually return to school after 10 days. Children recover faster and with less pain than adults.

More detail: Paediatric ENT.

There is no fixed age limit for tonsillectomy; the decision is based not on age but on how often infections occur, sleep and breathing problems and the effect on the child’s growth. In very young children, anaesthesia and aftercare are planned with extra care.

Yes. The grommet helps the ear adjust to changes in cabin pressure, so flying is usually more comfortable.

Regrowth of the adenoids after surgery is rare; the operation is a lasting solution for most children. If an underlying cause such as allergy continues, medical treatment may be needed for nasal symptoms.

After the adenoids are removed, breathing through the nose improves and the habit of keeping the mouth open lessens; facial development can be positively affected. How much it improves depends on the child’s age and how long the problem has lasted, which is why early assessment matters.

No. Research has shown that tonsillectomy does not harm the immune system. The throat can still get infections after the tonsils are removed, but this is not caused by their removal.

There is no need to worry; seeing your doctor for a check is enough. The ear has often recovered; in a few children fluid may build up again, and medical treatment or a new grommet may be needed.

Adenoids usually reach their largest size at around 3–4 years of age, begin to shrink after 7–8 years and have largely disappeared by adulthood.

Consultations take place at the clinic in Suadiye (Kadıköy, Istanbul) and operations at Maltepe University Hospital. To arrange an appointment you can fill in the consultation request form, call or send a WhatsApp message.

More detail: Your treatment in Istanbul.

Your previous test results (CT, MRI, hearing test, biopsy results) and a list of the medicines you take make the consultation easier. Describing your complaint briefly when you arrange the appointment helps us give you the right preparation information.

More detail: Your treatment in Istanbul.

The fee depends on the technique, the extent of the operation and the hospital where it is performed. A personal plan and fee information are given at the consultation.

More detail: Your treatment in Istanbul.