Septoplasty and rhinoplasty are different operations that are often done together. Septoplasty works on the wall inside the nose to improve airflow. Rhinoplasty reshapes the outside. When both are done in one operation, it is called septorhinoplasty. (You may see “setoplasty” online; that is a misspelling of septoplasty.) This guide explains how they differ and what to ask when a quote mentions one or the other.

Key takeaways

  • Septoplasty aims to correct a deviated septum to improve nasal function; rhinoplasty reshapes the outer nose; septorhinoplasty combines both.
  • A 2025 meta-analysis of three randomized trials (721 patients) found septoplasty improved obstruction scores at 6 and 12 months compared with non-surgical care.
  • Ask whether you need septal work, whether it is part of the same operation, and what your insurer will treat as medical.

What is septoplasty?

The nasal septum is a thin wall of cartilage and bone between the left and right sides of the nose. A panel of US ear, nose and throat specialists defined septoplasty in a clinical consensus statement as a procedure “designed to correct a deviated nasal septum for the purpose of improving nasal function, form, or both.” The operation is usually done through the nostrils.

Does it work? A 2025 meta-analysis pooled three randomized trials with 721 participants. It found that septoplasty improved obstruction symptom scores at 6 and 12 months compared with non-surgical treatment, with no clear difference at 3 months. The authors reported low complication rates, ranging from 0.31% for revision to 4.12% for bleeding and infection, and cautioned that more research is needed.

What is rhinoplasty?

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons describes rhinoplasty as surgery that enhances facial harmony and the proportions of the nose. The same page says it can also correct impaired breathing caused by structural defects, naming a deviated septum as one of the most common causes. So rhinoplasty is not purely cosmetic, and the line between the two operations blurs in practice.

What is septorhinoplasty?

The name combines both parts. University Hospitals Sussex describes septal surgery that can be combined with surgery to the nasal bones and calls the combination “a slightly bigger operation,” taking about 1 to 1.5 hours against 30 to 45 minutes for septal surgery alone. If your nose needs both breathing correction and reshaping, one operation can address both. Surgeons from different training routes use the term; our guide to ENT or plastic surgeon explains how to compare them.

How do they compare?

Septoplasty Rhinoplasty Septorhinoplasty
Main aim Straighten the septum, improve function Change shape and proportion, sometimes breathing Both
Where it works Inside the nose Cartilage, bone and skin framework Septum plus outer nose
Typical time (one NHS trust) 30 to 45 minutes Varies by plan 1 to 1.5 hours
Appearance change Not the aim; a shape change is “very rarely” reported The aim Part of the aim

Recovery depends on the plan and the trust. Sussex advises taking at least a week off work after septal surgery. Cambridge University Hospitals tells septorhinoplasty patients to take at least two weeks off work, avoid exercise and contact sports for six weeks, and avoid flying for two weeks. Those are two hospitals’ leaflets, not universal rules. For the longer arc, see rhinoplasty recovery over two years.

What are the risks?

Sussex lists nosebleeds, infection, a hole in the septum (rare, sometimes causing whistling, crusting or bleeding) and, very rarely, a change in the shape of the nose. Every operation has risks, so ask your surgeon to explain yours. Revisions are discussed in our guide to revision rhinoplasty.

What should you ask before your surgery?

  • Is my airway being evaluated? The US guideline says the surgeon should evaluate nasal airway obstruction before surgery.
  • Is septal work recommended for me, and why?
  • Will it happen in the same operation as the reshaping?
  • Is the incision approach open or closed? See open vs closed rhinoplasty.
  • Will my insurer treat any part as medically necessary? That depends on your country and policy, and I did not verify rules for any country, so ask in writing before you travel.
  • Which breathing symptoms should I report afterward, and to whom, once I am home?

If you have breathing concerns, narrow noses and breathing is a good next read, and the overview what to know before nose surgery covers the basics.

Sources

All pages were opened and checked in October 2026.