For patients in South Africa

Revision rhinoplasty in Turkey from South Africa

Revision rhinoplasty is surgery to correct the appearance or function of a nose that has already been operated on. It is usually more complex than a first rhinoplasty, because scar tissue, changed anatomy and weaker cartilage support all limit what can be done. This page is for South African patients considering a second, or further, operation.

Why revision is different

A revision works with whatever the earlier operation left behind, which can include:

• Scar tissue that makes the skin less flexible and the result harder to predict
• Changed anatomy, where cartilage or bone has already been removed or moved
• Reduced cartilage support, which may need rebuilding rather than further reduction
• Breathing problems that began or continued after the first operation

The main rhinoplasty guide for South African patients covers the splint, the swelling and the flight home. If you have never had nose surgery, see septorhinoplasty or the main guide instead. More detail is on the revision rhinoplasty treatment page.

Who it suits, and what to send first

• People unhappy with the appearance of the nose after a previous rhinoplasty
• People with breathing difficulties or structural problems after earlier surgery
• People in good general health with realistic expectations
• Non-smokers, or people able to stop before surgery

Send clear photographs and, if you can, the operation notes from your earlier surgery. Surgeons generally prefer the nose to have settled fully after the previous operation before planning a revision, so tell us when it took place. Suitability is confirmed only after a full assessment.

How long to stay, and the flight home

On arrival you have health checks, blood tests and a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon. After surgery you recover at Mandarin Grove near İzmir, with nursing support, dressing changes and check-ups. You rest with your head raised and must not blow your nose in the first days. When you can travel and return to work depends on the complexity of your revision and how you heal, so the operating surgeon confirms it.

• Do not book a fixed return date; a revision may need a longer stay than a first rhinoplasty
• Follow the surgeon’s instructions for the splint and congestion on the flight
• Protect your nose from knocks on the journey
• Tell us at the start about any history of bleeding, clots or problems after your first operation

Recovery at home

Swelling and bruising improve over the first weeks, and many patients return to normal activity within one to two weeks once the surgeon agrees. Swelling, particularly at the tip, can take three to twelve months to settle, and scar tissue can make this slower than after a first operation.

Rhinoplasty carries risks, including bleeding, infection, asymmetry, contour irregularity, altered sensation or smell, septal perforation, persistent or worse blocked breathing, dissatisfaction and further revision. Follow-up continues by photograph, message and video call with the same team; Turkey is only one hour ahead of South Africa. Complications and clinically necessary revisions within a year are covered by our treatment guarantee; flights and accommodation for any further treatment remain your own responsibility.

What decides the cost

Cost depends on the complexity of the revision, any breathing work and your length of stay. You receive an individual written quotation after assessment.

What we will not do

We will not confirm a plan before a surgeon has reviewed you, and we will not promise a perfect nose: a revision can improve on a previous result, but scar tissue limits what any surgeon can achieve. We will not operate if your health makes it unsafe. You can read the clinic facts and our complaints process before you decide.

For other procedures on the face, see the face surgery guide for South African patients.

Frequently asked questions

Why is revision rhinoplasty more complex than a first rhinoplasty?

Scar tissue, changed anatomy and reduced cartilage support from the earlier operation all limit what can be done and make the result harder to predict. The plan has to be built around what the first operation left behind.

What should I send before a revision rhinoplasty assessment?

Send clear photographs of your nose and, if you can, the operation notes from your earlier surgery, with its date. Describe any breathing problems as well as what you want to change in appearance.

How long after revision rhinoplasty can I fly home to South Africa?

There is no standard timetable for a revision. The operating surgeon confirms when you can fly, based on how complex the operation was and how you are healing, so book a return ticket you can change.

Is revision rhinoplasty covered by the treatment guarantee?

Revision surgery arranged through us carries the same one-year guarantee for complications and clinically necessary revisions. It does not cover a preference for a different look when the result is within what was discussed before treatment.

Will my medical aid cover revision rhinoplasty?

South African medical schemes generally do not cover cosmetic nose surgery abroad, and standard travel insurance usually excludes planned surgery. If you have a breathing problem, ask your scheme specifically what, if anything, it would consider.

Start with a free online consultation. Planning the trip? Read the guide for South African patients and the e-Visa guide.