Rhinoplasty (Nose Surgery) in Uberlândia, Brazil

When the procedure treats only a deviated septum it is called septoplasty. When the functional correction is done together with a change to the external shape of the nose, the name is septorhinoplasty — one operation, under one anesthetic, and that is the operation Dr. Lorena performs. Nasal obstruction, however, has more than one possible cause: a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, collapse of the nasal valve — the narrowest part of the airway, which sometimes needs a graft to hold it open — rhinitis and, in children, enlarged adenoids. Only some of these are resolved by plastic surgery of the nose: rhinitis, adenoids and nasal obstruction in childhood are managed by ENT specialists, and patients are referred when the assessment points that way. The consultation therefore starts by identifying where the obstruction comes from, before deciding which surgery, if any, applies to your case.

They are different procedures rather than equivalent alternatives. The non-surgical nose job is nasal filler with hyaluronic acid: injected in the office, no incision, and able only to add volume — it may disguise a small dorsal hump by raising the radix, soften a depression or project the tip slightly. It does not reduce the nose, does not narrow bone, does not correct a deviated septum and does not improve breathing, and it is temporary, because the product is absorbed over months. That does not mean the filler is neutral for a future operation: the literature describes implications of previous hyaluronic acid for rhinoplasty — altered dissection planes and the need to wait for absorption or dissolve the product before operating — which matters when a patient is thinking of using nasal filler as a step before deciding on surgery. The literature also describes the nose as one of the higher-risk areas for vascular occlusion with fillers, with possible skin injury and, rarely, visual complications — which is why the indication is assessed case by case. Rhinoplasty changes the structure; the choice depends on what your complaint actually requires.

Yes, when indicated — the consultation assessment defines whether functional correction alongside aesthetics is needed.

Surgical time varies depending on the complexity of the case and any combined techniques, and is estimated individually during the consultation.

Turbinates are the mucosa-lined structures inside the nose that warm and humidify the air you breathe in. When they are enlarged they narrow the airway and create the sensation of a permanently blocked nose, often alternating from one side to the other depending on body position. Assessing that enlargement and treating it medically are managed by ENT specialists; when it persists and there is a surgical indication, the conduct described is turbinoplasty — the volume is reduced while the mucosa is preserved, because removing a turbinate entirely impairs how the nose works, and that is also the approach least associated with bleeding and crusting. It is a smaller procedure, carried out in the same operation as septoplasty or rhinoplasty — Dr. Lorena performs it once the surgical indication is established, while the prior assessment and medical treatment remain with the ENT specialist. One caveat about expectation is usually missing from this conversation: reviews describe improvement in the sensation of breathing for most patients, but also that the effect can diminish over the years, with partial return of the obstruction. Turbinoplasty is therefore indicated when the enlarged turbinate really is the source of the obstruction, and not as an isolated measure in rhinitis that remains medically uncontrolled. Afterwards the nose tends to feel more blocked before it improves, from swelling and crusting, and clearing tends to be progressive over two to four weeks.

Yes, one night. The approach taken by Dr. Lorena is a one-day admission: the surgery is performed and discharge usually follows the next day. The stay allows bleeding to be observed, pain and post-anesthetic nausea to be controlled, and the first night to be spent with assistance. What can extend it is the combination with other procedures, the length of the operation and conditions such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea. Patients travelling from other cities are usually advised how long to remain in Uberlândia until the first review, according to the case. This is defined before surgery, not on the day. Whether you go home the same day or stay overnight is always assessed case by case, according to the extent of the surgery, the anesthesia, whether other procedures are combined and your pre-operative assessment — and it is defined before the surgery, not on the day. That same decision determines the venue: procedures with same-day discharge are performed in the operating theatre of Healme Clinic itself, and those requiring admission in the operating theatre of the UMC Hospital — in the same complex, with no travel between sites.

Discomfort is individual and managed with medical guidance; swelling and pressure are more common than intense pain.

Rhinoplasty is generally performed under general anesthesia, with the specific approach defined together with the anesthesiology team based on the pre-operative evaluation.

In Dr. Lorena's practice, no: rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia. The reason is airway safety — blood from the surgery drains towards the throat and the airway has to be protected — together with the length of the operation and the need for immobility when the septum, osteotomies (the controlled cuts that narrow the nasal bone) or grafts are involved. It is not about patient preference or about how serious the case is: the modality is defined by the anesthesiology team at the pre-anesthetic assessment, together with the surgeon, and using ultrasonic instruments on the bone does not change that decision.

It is an expected discomfort with two causes adding up: the tube used to protect the airway during general anesthesia irritates the lining of the throat, and in the first days the nose is blocked by swelling and clots, so you breathe through your mouth and dry air passes over the pharynx all night. It feels raw, sometimes with slight hoarseness, and tends to improve within two to four days, before the nose itself clears. Hydration, a humidified room and the prescribed medication usually settle it. A sore throat with fever, white patches or progressive worsening is not part of this picture and should be reported to the medical team.

In most accounts what bothers patients is not pain but obstruction: the nose is blocked by internal swelling and clots, the mouth is dry because you are breathing through it, and there is a sense of pressure across the bridge and around the eyes. Mild headache is also common, along with blood-tinged discharge in the first days, swelling and bruising of the eyelids that darkens before it fades, and difficulty sleeping with the head elevated. The splint usually annoys more through its weight and itchiness than through pain. This combination tends to improve noticeably from the fourth or fifth day, and having the splint removed is a milestone of relief for most patients. One distinction here saves both alarm and delay: pink discharge that gradually clears is part of recovery; bright red bleeding that soaks gauze, runs continuously down the throat or restarts after it had stopped is not — the literature describes bleeding episodes through the first week, not only in the first hours. In that case the instruction is to contact the team immediately, without waiting for the follow-up visit.

The most visible swelling reduces within the first weeks, but final refinement of the result can take months.

The first few days typically call for relative rest with the head elevated, which helps reduce swelling and discomfort.

Low-effort activities are usually resumed within a few days, while roles involving more exposure or physical demands tend to require a longer interval, assessed individually.

Driving is generally allowed once the nasal splint has been removed and any medication affecting reflexes or alertness has worn off, as confirmed by your doctor.

More intense physical activity is usually reintroduced gradually, guided by follow-up visits, to reduce the risk of bleeding or prolonged swelling.

The nasal splint or cast is usually kept in place for a few days and removed at a follow-up visit, once the bone structure is more stable.

For work without physical effort, the interval usually advised is seven to fourteen days — roughly the time until the splint comes off, and while bruising around the eyes is still visible. Work involving exertion, lifting, strong sun exposure, helmet use or any risk of a blow to the face calls for longer, and there the interval is set by the job rather than by the operation. Remote work is sometimes resumed earlier, at a reduced pace. A medical certificate is issued by the team according to how each patient progresses and can be extended at follow-up; the estimate for your case is given at the consultation, before you organize your schedule.

The usual instruction is to sleep on your back, with the head raised around 30 to 45 degrees, for the first few weeks. The reason is mechanical: when osteotomies have been performed — the controlled cuts in the nasal bone — consolidation takes roughly four to six weeks, and the weight of the face on a pillow can shift the dorsum or keep swelling asymmetrical on one side. Sleeping face down is what is avoided most. Since nobody controls their own sleep, a U-shaped pillow or cushions at the sides of the head help, and keeping the head elevated also reduces swelling on waking. Clearance to sleep on your side again is given at follow-up, according to how stable the structure is.

In general, light walking is allowed within the first days, low-intensity aerobic work at around two to three weeks, and weight training from four to six weeks. Ball sports, martial arts, pool swimming and anything carrying a risk of a blow to the face tend to wait longer — in the region of two to three months. The caution has two reasons: effort raises blood pressure and can cause bleeding and more swelling, and trauma can displace the structure before it is firm, particularly where osteotomies were performed and the nasal bone is still consolidating. Progression is cleared at follow-up visits, according to how you are healing, rather than by a fixed calendar.

The tip is indeed the last area to settle — it is one of the areas where the skin is thickest, and it is where there is most tissue between skin and cartilage, so that is where swelling lingers. The bulk of facial swelling settles in the first two to three weeks; definition of the tip keeps evolving for six to twelve months, and longer in thick or oily skin. In the first months it is common for the tip to look more rotated, or turned up, and for the nose to look wider from the front than in profile — both usually change as the swelling resolves and the tissues settle. That is why nothing is concluded about the result at three months, and why the result is assessed across follow-up visits rather than at a single appointment.

Glasses rest precisely on the bridge and on the nasal bones that were worked on, and continuous pressure there can mark the skin or shift the structure while it consolidates. The usual instruction is therefore to avoid frames resting on the nose for about four to six weeks, sunglasses included. Patients who depend on visual correction usually manage with contact lenses, once allowed, or with simple adaptations: taping the frame to the forehead with hypoallergenic tape, using a very light frame, or resting it above the splint in the first days. The exact timing is individual and is reviewed at follow-up, according to bone healing.

With the closed technique there is no external scar; when the open technique is indicated, the small incision tends to be discreet, hidden at the base of the nose.

The open approach uses an incision a few millimeters long across the columella — the strip of skin between the nostrils — usually in a broken line so the scar is harder to read. For the first weeks it is red and slightly raised, which is a normal stage of healing rather than a sign of trouble; between the third and sixth month it tends to fade and flatten, and it keeps maturing for up to a year. The scar does not disappear. A fine line usually remains, which tends to be barely noticeable from the front and more visible when the nose is seen from below, with healing that varies from person to person. A hypertrophic or keloid scar is uncommon in this area but possible in skin prone to it, and follow-up then includes strict sun protection, taping and silicone.

There is no nose surgery without incisions. The phrase usually means one of two things: the closed technique, where every incision is inside the nostrils and there is no scar on the outer skin, or nasal filler, which is injected, is not surgery, and has a completely different scope and duration. Choosing between the closed and the open approach is not a marketing question: it depends on what has to be done to the tip, the septum and the dorsum, on the access needed to position grafts precisely, and on whether this is a reoperation. Both techniques leave internal scars, which are not visible, and the decision is set out during planning.

Cartilage used to support or project the nose is preferably taken from the patient's own septum. When the septum has already been used in a previous operation, or is weak or insufficient for what the case requires, the alternatives are ear or rib cartilage. Harvesting rib cartilage leaves a permanent scar on the chest, a few centimeters long, placed in a natural crease when possible, and adds a discomfort of its own when breathing deeply, coughing or laughing, usually for one to two weeks — a smaller proportion of patients describe chest discomfort for longer. Rib cartilage also behaves in a way that has to be said in advance: it can warp over time, and warping is the complication most often described for this graft in systematic reviews, potentially altering the shape of the dorsum months later and calling for an adjustment. That is one reason follow-up runs longer when it is used, and one reason the septum remains the first choice. Homologous cartilage from a tissue bank is another option, discussed in the literature with its own advantages and limitations. The likely need for a graft is anticipated at the consultation, although it is not always settled before surgery.

Temporary changes in sensitivity at the tip of the nose can occur due to tissue manipulation during surgery, usually resolving gradually; this is discussed individually during the consultation.

Every operation under anesthesia carries risk, and rhinoplasty is no exception: the risk is low in a healthy patient, not absent. The complications most often described are bleeding — commonest in the first days, with episodes reported through the first week after surgery —, infection, hematoma, septal perforation, changes in breathing, and an aesthetic outcome different from the one planned. Serious events, including those related to anesthesia, are rare, and that is precisely why a full preoperative assessment is required, why surgery takes place in a hospital with a dedicated anesthesiologist, and why combining several procedures in one session is weighed carefully. Smoking, uncontrolled blood pressure, clotting disorders and blood-thinning medication raise that risk and change the preparation. Your individual risk is estimated at the consultation, from your history and test results.

The risk exists but is considered low for this type of surgery: operating time is relatively short, recovery does not require prolonged immobility, and walking is usually possible on the same day — three factors that lower the chance of venous thrombosis. What weighs more is the patient's profile: hormonal contraceptives or hormone replacement, smoking, a personal or family history of clots, thrombophilia, obesity, and longer operating time when procedures are combined. Risk is therefore usually scored before surgery with tools validated for that purpose — the Caprini score is the one most used in plastic surgery — and, intermittent pneumatic compression during the operation, compression stockings and early walking are routine in every case, and the score defines how long prophylactic enoxaparin is used; pausing hormones beforehand depends on the assessment. The approach is defined individually at the preoperative assessment.

It does tend to be technically harder and less predictable. In a reoperation the surgeon meets scar tissue instead of clean anatomical planes, the blood supply of the nasal skin has already been disturbed, and septal cartilage is often no longer available — which means taking a graft from the ear or the rib. Skin behaves differently too: once it has become very thin, it hides no irregularity at all. As a general rule, at least twelve months from the previous operation is advised, with the swelling fully settled, before reoperating; for adjustments limited to soft tissue or the tip, the interval can be discussed. Assessment includes the previous operative report, when available, and examination of the structure that remains.

Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis is used in every patient, not only in those at higher risk. It has two parts. The mechanical one is routine: anti-thrombosis compression stockings and intermittent pneumatic compression of the legs, used during the operation and in the immediate postoperative period, until early ambulation — the third pillar, and the reason the team insists on short, frequent walks from the first hours. The chemical part is individualised: how long enoxaparin is used is defined by the Caprini score, a validated instrument that adds up factors such as age, body mass index, expected length of surgery, hormone use, smoking and personal or family history of thrombosis. None of these measures eliminates the risk, which is why asymmetrical pain or swelling in a leg, shortness of breath and chest pain need immediate assessment, not waiting.

A bulbous nose means a wide tip: broad or convex lower lateral cartilages, limited projection and, almost always, thick skin covering everything. Surgically this is addressed with conservative reshaping of those cartilages, suture techniques that define the tip and, where support is lacking, a graft to project it — because projecting usually defines more than removing does. The limit is the skin: the thicker it is, the less it drapes over the new framework and the longer swelling takes to leave, so the definition obtained tends to be less than in thin skin. That limit is presented during planning, before surgery. How much change is possible in your case is estimated at the consultation, examining skin thickness and the cartilage available.

It can. The unsatisfactory outcomes most often described are a small irregularity or step on the dorsum, asymmetry, a deviated or dropping tip, over-resection that leaves the bridge scooped, new breathing difficulty, and a columellar scar more noticeable than expected. Some of this is only clarified as the swelling matures, which is why a result is not judged before twelve months: what looks irregular at three months may be swelling. A minority of cases do end up needing revision surgery, more often where a functional correction is involved and where the operation is already a revision. The plan is discussed beforehand in terms of what is anatomically possible in your nose, and follow-up exists to identify early what can still be addressed.

Yes, and the planning is different — it is not the same operation with smaller adjustments. In general a straighter dorsum is preserved, without the slight concavity read as feminine; the angle between lip and nose is kept closer to 90 to 95 degrees; and over-rotation of the tip is avoided, since a strongly rotated tip tends to feminize the face. Male skin is usually thicker and oilier, which prolongs swelling and limits fine definition of the tip. In noses with thick skin, a wider base and limited projection, the plan often involves supporting and projecting rather than reducing, preserving the ethnic character of the face. The reference is never a standard nose, but balance with your own features.

The criterion is not legal age but the end of nasal growth: operating before that can interfere with development, and the nose will still change afterwards. In the practice of Dr. Lorena, rhinoplasty is considered from the age of 16, for girls and boys alike, always with consent from the legal guardians when the patient is under 18. Nasal growth varies individually — on average it completes slightly later in boys — and that is what the assessment checks before the surgery is indicated. Alongside the clinical assessment, the maturity of the expectation weighs heavily — who is asking for the surgery, and why. Cases with a relevant functional indication, such as significant breathing obstruction or a deformity after trauma, may be assessed earlier, with a more conservative approach. The decision is individual and is made at a consultation with the family.

Rhinoplasty is performed both by plastic surgeons and by ear, nose and throat surgeons — both specialties have recognized training for nasal surgery, with different emphases. What matters is the doctor's registered qualification rather than the popular name of the procedure. In Brazil that qualification is the RQE, the specialist registration number, which can be checked on the public register of the Federal Council of Medicine and appears in the doctor's own advertising. Dr. Lorena Gidrão de Queiroz is a plastic surgeon, CRM-MG 85769, RQE 71258, and a member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. Cases with a breathing component may be managed jointly with an ENT surgeon, according to the indication.

The structural change tends to be permanent: bone and cartilage that have been repositioned, reduced or supported with a graft generally do not return to their previous shape. That does not mean the nose is unchanging, or that the result is guaranteed — grafts can resorb or warp over time, and deviations can partly recur. The nose also ages with the rest of the face: skin thins, tip support weakens over the decades, and the tip tends to drop slightly through life, with or without surgery. Beyond that, what you see in the first months is not yet the settled result — swelling takes six to twelve months to resolve, longer in thick skin. And a proportion of cases need a surgical adjustment later. No result is promised as final; what is discussed at the consultation is what is reasonable to expect from your anatomy.

Surgical fees are always private — Dr. Lorena does not operate through health insurance. What is possible, when a genuine, documented medical indication exists — such as a deviated septum or other changes that impair nasal breathing —, is to guide the patient and attempt to have the health plan cover part of the hospital admission, which may include the operating room, the hospital stay and materials, according to the terms of her policy. Authorisation is the insurer's decision and cannot be guaranteed; the team advises on the documentation required and on how to proceed.

Yes, where there is a reconstructive or functional indication — for example changes that impair nasal breathing, or a sequela of trauma or of cleft lip and palate. Surgery for purely aesthetic purposes is not covered by the SUS. Dr. Lorena is a plastic surgeon appointed by public examination to the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Uberlândia (HC-UFU) and preceptor of its plastic surgery residency, and she operates on SUS patients there. The route, however, does not run through this site or the private practice: the patient must register at the primary care unit (Unidade Básica de Saúde) nearest to where she lives, be assessed by a doctor there and, if there is an indication, be placed in her municipality's regulation queue. The surgeon cannot choose who is operated on through the SUS — the order follows the queue and the rules of the system strictly.

We do not publish isolated before-and-after pairs. Resolution 2,336/2023 of the Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine allows results to be demonstrated, but only within a set that also includes unsatisfactory outcomes and the complications described in the literature, across different body types, age ranges and stages of healing, and with no editing of the images (art. 14, II). An isolated pair of photos does not meet those requirements and also implies a guaranteed result, which the same resolution prohibits (art. 11, XII). At the consultation the expected outcome is discussed from your own anatomy — what is reasonable to expect, what is not possible, and what the risks are.