Functional rhinoplasty at a glance
- Duration15 min to 1 hour
- AnaesthesiaGeneral
- Hospital stayDay surgery or 1 night
- Social downtime7 to 10 days
- CoverWith prior approval
- Price€500 to €5,000
Functional rhinoplasty improves breathing through the nose by removing an obstruction: deviated septum (septoplasty), enlarged turbinates (turbinoplasty) or nasal valves that close when you breathe in. These procedures can be performed on their own or at the same time as a cosmetic rhinoplasty (rhinoseptoplasty). The operation takes 15 minutes to 1 hour, under general anaesthesia, as day surgery or with one night’s stay at Clinique Oxford in Cannes; social downtime is 7 to 10 days. The functional part can be covered by French national health insurance (Assurance Maladie) and top-up insurance (mutuelle), with prior approval.
Price: additional fees of €500 to €5,000, on a written quote after a consultation (€100); functional part covered with prior approval.
Septoplasty, turbinoplasty, nasal valves: which procedure for which problem?
| Septoplasty | Turbinoplasty | Nasal valve surgery | Rhinoseptoplasty | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | Deviated septum or septal spur | Enlarged turbinates (hypertrophy) | Weakened valves that close when you breathe in | Breathing difficulty and nose shape to be corrected |
| Typical symptom | Nose permanently blocked | Nose blocked alternately on each side | Sides of the nose collapse when you breathe in | Depends on the cause |
| Procedure | Straighten the septum or remove the spur | Partially reduce the turbinates | Spreader grafts or flaps to reopen the valves | Septoplasty combined with a rhinoplasty |
| Cover | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes for the functional part, with prior approval |
Which problems can be corrected?
A blocked nose can have several causes, sometimes combined:
- a deviated septum or a septal spur, which narrows one nostril: the nose is permanently blocked, often on one side;
- enlarged turbinates: the nose is blocked alternately on each side;
- weakened nasal valves: the sides of the nose collapse when you breathe in (external valve) or the upper part of the airway is too narrow (internal valve);
- a perforation of the septum.
Breathing difficulty that appears after a first rhinoplasty calls for a revision rhinoplasty.
What do the procedures involve?
Septoplasty straightens a deviated nasal septum or removes a spur. Turbinoplasty (or partial turbinectomy) reduces the turbinates when they are too large. Valve surgery reopens the airway with cartilage spreader grafts or spreader flaps, or strengthens the sides of the nose.
Form and function are linked: every step on the bone or cartilage also affects breathing. This is why Dr Médard de Chardon always examines breathing, including before a cosmetic rhinoplasty; a refined nose that breathes less well is a failure.
Before
The deviated septum and the enlarged turbinates block the airway, especially on one side.
- 1Deviated septum: straightened by septoplasty
- 2Enlarged inferior turbinate: reduced by turbinoplasty
- 3Middle turbinate
- 4Bony wall of the nasal cavities
The internal nasal valve
Before: the angle between the septum and the cartilages is too narrow; air passes poorly.
The spreader grafts are shaped from cartilage taken from the septum, the ear or a rib.
Who is it for, and from what age?
Functional rhinoplasty is for women and men who have difficulty breathing through the nose. It is possible from the age of 16; a minor is seen with the consent of both parents. Smoking must be stopped for 6 weeks before and after the operation.
Dr Médard de Chardon’s experience
- A large part of his practice is devoted to nose surgery: primary, revision and functional rhinoplasty.
- Member of the Rhinoplasty Society of Europe (RSE), the European professional society dedicated to rhinoplasty.
- Further training in rhinoplasty: Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium (United States), Rhinoplasty Video Symposium (Paris), Bergamo Open Rhinoplasty Course (Italy).
- In practice in Cannes since 2011; more than 1,300 rhinoplasties performed.
See the before and after photos of rhinoplasty
What happens during a functional rhinoplasty?
- Consultation€100 at the practice, 101 rue d’Antibes, Cannes: examination of the nose (framework, skin, breathing). A sinus CT scan is requested if needed.
- Prior approvalThe request for cover is sent to the Assurance Maladie for the functional part. The written quote details the fees and charges.
- PreparationAnaesthetic consultation, stopping aspirin and anti-inflammatories 15 days before.
- OperationAt Clinique Oxford in Cannes, under general anaesthesia, 15 minutes to 1 hour, as day surgery or with one night in hospital.
- Follow-upCheck-ups after the operation; the practice remains reachable throughout your recovery.
What is the recovery like?
- No nasal packing in more than 95% of cases: dissolvable internal sutures replace it and the patient breathes through the nose on waking.
- Nasal splint: 7 to 10 days if the bones or the shape of the nose are altered.
- Social downtime: 7 to 10 days; 10 days off work.
- Precautions: no forceful nose-blowing for 1 month.
- Sport: no strenuous sport for 3 months.
- Breathing: improved within 15 days.
Where will you be?
14 days after the procedure
What are the risks?
The risks are those of any nose surgery, set out on the rhinoplasty page. More specifically: bleeding, perforation of the septum, adhesions inside the nose and persistence of part of the obstruction.
Choosing a qualified, experienced and reputable surgeon reduces these risks, and can even eliminate some of them.
Is it covered by health insurance?
€500 to €5,000
Yes. The functional part (deviated septum, turbinates, nasal valves), as well as the after-effects of injury or congenital malformation, can be covered by the Assurance Maladie and the mutuelle, with prior approval. The cosmetic part of a rhinoseptoplasty sometimes remains payable by the patient: in some cases, the change in the shape of the nose is also covered with prior approval. Dr Médard de Chardon practises in Sector 2 (fees above the national health insurance rate), not OPTAM-registered: additional fees apply, from €500 to €5,000, specified on the written quote.
Book an appointment: +33 (0)4 93 68 86 68 or Doctolib.
Frequently asked questions about functional rhinoplasty
What is the difference between septoplasty and rhinoplasty?
Septoplasty straightens the septum inside the nose to improve breathing, without changing its shape. Rhinoplasty changes the shape of the nose. The two can be combined: this is called rhinoseptoplasty.
Is functional rhinoplasty reimbursed?
The functional part can be covered by the Assurance Maladie and the mutuelle, with prior approval. Dr Médard de Chardon practises in Sector 2: additional fees apply, specified on the written quote.
Can breathing and the shape of the nose be corrected at the same time?
Yes. Septoplasty, turbinoplasty or valve surgery can be performed at the same time as a cosmetic rhinoplasty. The functional part is covered and, in some cases, so is the correction of the shape of the nose, with prior approval.
Is nasal packing needed after a septoplasty?
No, in more than 95% of cases at Dr Médard de Chardon’s practice: dissolvable internal sutures replace packing and the patient breathes through the nose on waking.
Why is my nose blocked on one side and then the other?
A nose blocked alternately on each side points to enlarged turbinates; a permanently blocked nose points rather to a deviated septum. Examining the nose at the consultation identifies the cause.
The sides of my nose collapse when I breathe in: can this be operated on?
Yes. This collapse of the sides of the nose (alar collapse) reflects a weakened external nasal valve. It is corrected with cartilage grafts that strengthen or widen the walls of the nose.
How much does a functional rhinoplasty cost?
The price is set on a written quote after the consultation (€100). The functional part is covered with prior approval; the quote specifies the additional fees remaining payable by the patient or the mutuelle (€500 to €5,000).