Glojour EditorialQuestions to ask8 min read

What to ask a surgeon before a nose job

Name: What to ask a surgeon before a nose job
Creator: Glojour Editorial
Published: 2026-10-01T22:30:37.789577+00:00

Reviewed by a specialist physician · October 2, 2026

Ask who will operate and how you can check them, what exactly they plan for your nose and why, what can go wrong and what happens then, and who looks after you once you are home.

Written by Glojour EditorialPublished October 2, 2026Updated October 2, 2026

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In short

Ask who will operate, and check them yourself: in the UK on the GMC register, in Azerbaijan with the doctor's certificate number. In Turkey we found no public doctor lookup, so ask to see the specialty certificate and, if you are travelling from abroad, check the facility on the Ministry's list of facilities authorised for international patients.
Ask exactly what is planned and why: breathing as well as shape, an open or a closed approach, any cartilage grafts, and what the operation can realistically achieve.
Ask how likely each complication is and how it would be treated. Revision rates range from 0 to 10.9% across 36 studies, so ask for the surgeon's own figure and agree the terms for a second operation beforehand.
Ask who looks after you afterwards, whom you call out of hours, and what written records you take home, especially if you will fly home after surgery.

Put your questions to the surgeon who will operate, because only that surgeon should advise you about the operation.¹² Nobody needs a nose job urgently, so if you are not given time to think, look elsewhere.³ This guide helps you prepare. It is not medical advice, and only the surgeon who examines you can say what suits your nose.

Who will operate, and how can I check them?

Ask the name of the surgeon who will operate, make sure it is the person you meet, and check them in the official sources of the country where you will have surgery.⁴ More than one specialty is recognised for it. In the UK, the Royal College of Surgeons says the surgeon should be on the specialist register for plastic surgery, ENT or oral and maxillofacial surgery;⁵ in Turkey, both the ENT and the plastic surgery training curricula cover it.⁶⁷ So ask which specialty they trained in and how often they do this operation.²

In the UK, the GMC register shows whether a doctor holds a licence to practise and is on the specialist register, and for which specialty.⁸⁹ For private cosmetic surgery the law asks only for GMC registration and a licence, not a place on the specialist register, but the Royal College of Surgeons strongly advises choosing a surgeon who is on it.¹⁰ In England, a hospital or clinic doing nose surgery must be registered with the Care Quality Commission; check it, or ask to see its certificate.¹¹¹

In Turkey, we found no public way to look up a doctor: the e-Devlet doctor record service needs a login and is meant for doctors themselves.¹²¹³ The law requires a document of specialisation in surgery or one of its branches for any surgical operation beyond minor surgery, so ask to see the surgeon's specialty certificate (uzmanlık belgesi).¹⁴ A facility treating patients from abroad needs Ministry authorisation, so check the facility on the Ministry's list of authorised facilities.¹⁵¹⁶¹⁷ It must also carry complication insurance for operations in an operating theatre, so ask to see the policy.¹⁵¹⁸

In Azerbaijan, check the clinic on the licence register.¹⁹ The Ministry of Health's certificate check needs a sign-in and the doctor's certificate number, so ask the surgeon for the number.²⁰²¹

What exactly do you plan for my nose, and why?

Ask the surgeon exactly what they will do and why, and agree before the operation what it can realistically achieve.²²² The plan should cover breathing as well as shape: a US clinical guideline says the surgeon should check your airway first,²³ and a bent septum can sometimes be straightened in the same operation.³

Ask whether they will use an open or a closed approach, and why. Open leaves a small scar across the skin between the nostrils; closed leaves no visible scar but is not always possible.²⁴²⁵ Some surgeons' societies say open means more swelling and a longer recovery,²⁶²⁷ but two reviews of the studies found no clear difference in outcomes.²⁸²⁹

If your nose needs building up, ask where the cartilage will come from: usually the septum, occasionally the ear, rarely a rib.³⁰ Treat any computer simulation as a sketch to talk over, because the real result almost always differs somewhat.²⁵

What can go wrong, and what happens then?

Occasionally the operation leaves lasting difficulty breathing, damage to the wall between the nostrils, a changed sense of smell or heavy nosebleeds.²⁴ Your surgeon should explain which complications are possible, how likely each one is and how it would be treated.²⁴²

How many people need a second operation depends on the study: a review of 36 studies found revision rates from 0 to 10.9%.³¹ In one US state's day surgery records, 380 of 8,531 patients had a revision over a five-year period,³² and in one practice the revision rate was 9.8% across 369 cosmetic nose operations.³³ Ask what proportion of the surgeon's own patients need further surgery,³⁴ and agree beforehand when a second operation would be considered and who would pay for it.²⁶² European facial plastic surgeons advise waiting 6 to 12 months for the nose to heal before considering one.²⁵

Where, with what anaesthetic, and for how long?

It is usually done under general anaesthetic, or in selected cases under local anaesthetic with sedation,²⁴²⁵ and takes 1.5 to 3 hours, or up to 5 when the septum is straightened too.²⁴²² Some people go home the same day, with a responsible adult staying overnight; others stay one or two nights.³²⁴ Ask where it will happen and which of these applies to you.² If you are travelling, do not pay for a hospital you have never seen or a surgeon you have not met.³⁵

Who looks after me afterwards, and after I fly home?

Ask who will see you after the operation, and whom you call out of hours.³⁶² UK guidance for doctors says you should leave with written notes detailed enough for another doctor to take over your care, including the medicines used.³⁶ If you travel from the UK for surgery, UK government advice is to bring back a full medical report in English for your own doctor.⁴ In Turkey, a facility treating patients from abroad must give you, free on request, the test results and imaging you paid for.¹⁵

Clinics abroad may not provide follow up, and travel insurance does not normally cover you if things go wrong in surgery.³⁵ So if you will fly home, ask whether the surgeon works with anyone near your home and who pays for any further surgery,³⁷ and tell your own doctor before you go.⁴³⁸ For the recovery itself, read rhinoplasty recovery, day by day.

What a good surgeon asks you

A good surgeon asks why you want the operation and what you hope it will change, and tells you whether that is realistic.²³³⁶ Expect questions about your breathing, sleep apnoea, sinus trouble and allergies.²³²⁵

Bring a list of your medicines, including herbal remedies, and mention any bleeding disorder, blood thinners, regular decongestant nasal sprays or cocaine use.³²³²⁵ On smoking the advice differs: British plastic surgeons say stop at least six weeks before, and ENT UK says ideally three months.³²² Mention any earlier nose surgery or broken nose: revision is more complex,²⁷ and in one practice an earlier nose operation or a facial fracture was linked with needing a revision.³³ Your age matters too, because the nose should have finished growing; clinical sources put that at around 16 to 17.³⁹²⁵²⁷

A good surgeon also asks, gently, how you feel about your nose, because surgery alone will not solve emotional or social problems you may feel it causes.³ A US clinical guideline asks surgeons to look for body dysmorphic disorder, where worry about flaws that others often do not notice takes up a lot of time; ENT UK advises a specialist referral in place of surgery.²³⁴⁰⁴¹ Having it does not mean you are vain, and if it sounds familiar, see your GP.⁴⁰ A surgeon may advise against the operation, and should not do it if they believe it will not benefit you.²³⁶

Try it

Build your questions for the consultation

Tap through five steps and you get a short list of questions to take into the consultation, each with the reason it is worth asking. Your answers only choose which questions go on the list; they say nothing about whether surgery is right for you.

Will you operate on me yourself, what is your specialty, and where can I check your registration?Only the surgeon who operates should advise you, and UK government advice is to look up their details in the official sources of the country where you have surgery. 1 4 8
What exactly will you do to my nose, and why this plan for me?You and the surgeon should agree before the operation what it can realistically achieve. 2 22
What could go wrong, how would you treat it, and how often do your patients need a second operation?Your surgeon should explain how likely each risk is and how it would be treated, and revision rates vary widely between studies. 24 31 34
What can the operation realistically change, and what can it not?There are limits to how much a nose can be altered, and the result depends on your nose, your skin and your age. 3
Will you use an open or a closed approach, and why for my nose?An open approach leaves a small scar between the nostrils, and two reviews of the studies found no clear difference in outcomes between the two. 24 25 28
How will the thickness of my skin affect the result?Thin skin shows small bumps and hollows, and thick skin hides some of the changes made inside. 41
Will you need cartilage from elsewhere, and from where?Grafts usually come from the septum, occasionally from the ear and rarely from a rib. 22 30
Is surgery the right way to change what bothers me, and what are the alternatives?The surgeon should explain the alternatives, and should advise against surgery when they think it is not in your interest. 2 35
How will you check my breathing, and how could the operation change it?A clinical guideline says the airway should be checked before surgery, and patients told how surgery might affect breathing. 23
Can my sinus or allergy problem be treated in the same operation, or should it come first?Sinus surgery can sometimes be done in the same setting, and chronic sinusitis should be part of the plan. 25 27
How does my earlier surgery or injury change your plan and my risks?Revision is more complex than a first operation, and in one practice an earlier nasal operation or a facial fracture was linked with needing a revision. 27 33
Where will the operation happen, is that place registered or licensed, and will I stay the night?Each country has its own register or licence for hospitals and clinics, and some people go home the same day while others stay one or two nights. 1 15 19 24
Who will see me after the operation, and whom do I call out of hours?You should know how to reach the surgeon or another named doctor if a problem starts out of hours. 2 36
Who looks after me after the operation and once I am home, whom do I call out of hours, and what written report do I take with me?You should know how to reach the surgeon or another named doctor out of hours, clinics abroad may not provide follow up, and UK advice is to bring home a full medical report in English. 2 4 35 36
Which of my medicines, supplements or nasal sprays should I stop, and when should I stop smoking?Bleeding disorders, blood thinners and regular decongestant sprays can change the plan or rule surgery out, and stopping smoking reduces the risk of complications: at least six weeks before, or ideally three months. 3 22 23 25
How does my sleep apnoea change the operation and the care around it?A clinical guideline asks surgeons to discuss how sleep apnoea affects care around the operation. 23

Questions people ask

Can an ENT surgeon do a nose job, or does it have to be a plastic surgeon?

Yes. The Turkish Ministry of Health's specialty training curricula cover rhinoplasty for both ENT and plastic surgeons, and in the UK the Royal College of Surgeons says a nose surgeon should be on the specialist register for plastic surgery, ENT or oral and maxillofacial surgery. Whichever the specialty, check the surgeon's registration and ask how often they do this operation. 2 5 6 7

What is the youngest age for a nose job?

Surgeons wait until the nose has finished growing, which clinical sources put around 16 to 17; European facial plastic surgeons prefer a minimum of 17. UK guidance asks doctors to take particular care with young people and to encourage them to involve their parents in the decision. 25 27 36 39

Can my sinus problem and my nose be fixed in the same operation?

Sometimes. A bent septum can sometimes be straightened in the same operation, and sinus surgery can be done in the same setting depending on the situation. Ask the surgeon to check your breathing and sinuses first, so the plan covers both. 3 23 25 27

Is a nose job done under general anaesthetic, and how long does it take?

Usually under general anaesthetic, or in selected cases under local anaesthetic with sedation. It typically takes 1.5 to 3 hours, or up to 5 when the septum is straightened too, and some people go home the same day while others stay one or two nights. 3 22 24 25

Open or closed rhinoplasty: which is better?

Neither has been shown to be better overall: two reviews of the studies found no clear difference in outcomes. An open approach leaves a small scar between the nostrils and suits complex cases and revisions; a closed one leaves no visible scar but is not always possible. Ask your surgeon why they would choose one for your nose. 24 25 28 29

How often does a nose job need redoing, and when can a revision be done?

A review of 36 studies found revision rates from 0 to 10.9%, and 380 of 8,531 patients in one US state's records had a revision over a five-year period. European facial plastic surgeons advise waiting 6 to 12 months for healing before considering one, and it is worth agreeing the terms for a second operation before the first. 25 26 31 32

Three clinics told me three different things. Is that normal?

It can be: surgeons may prefer different approaches for the same nose, and each should explain why. You can change your mind at any point and ask another surgeon for a second opinion, and you can ask each one to set out in writing what is included, including follow up and any revision. 1 2 25 36

How can I check a surgeon in Turkey from the UK?

We found no public way to look up a doctor in Turkey, so ask to see the surgeon's specialty certificate. You can check the hospital on the Ministry of Health's public list of facilities authorised for international patients. 12 13 14 16 17

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Sources

Every number and medical claim above links to one of these. Checked September 27, 2026.