Nose Osteotomy in Korea

Nasal osteotomy is a rhinoplasty technique that involves precisely controlled fractures of the nasal bones to narrow a wide bridge, straighten a deviated nose, or close an "open roof" created after dorsal hump removal. Osteotomy is not a standalone cosmetic procedure in most cases — it is a critical structural step within a broader rhinoplasty plan that reshapes the bony framework of the nose.

Korean rhinoplasty surgeons perform osteotomies with high frequency because many rhinoplasty cases, whether for Asian or international patients, require bridge width adjustment alongside dorsal augmentation or reduction. Their experience with both powered instruments and traditional osteotomes, combined with meticulous post-operative splinting protocols, produces predictable, symmetric bone alignment.

This page is for informational purposes. Individual results vary. A board-certified surgeon should evaluate your anatomy before any procedure.

Osteotomy allows the surgeon to reposition the nasal bones into a narrower, straighter configuration. The technique is selected based on the specific correction required.

1. Planning — The surgeon evaluates the nasal bone width, symmetry, and any deviation using physical examination and often CT imaging. The type of osteotomy — lateral, medial, intermediate, or a combination — is planned based on where the bones need to be mobilised.
2. Anaesthesia — General anaesthesia is standard for rhinoplasty involving osteotomies. The nasal mucosa is injected with local anaesthetic containing epinephrine for haemostasis.
3. Access — Osteotomies are performed through either a percutaneous (external, through tiny stab incisions on the side of the nose) or an endonasal (internal) approach. The open rhinoplasty incision at the columella provides additional access for complex cases.
4. Bone cuts — A guarded osteotome or a piezoelectric instrument is used to create controlled fracture lines along the planned paths. Lateral osteotomies run along the base of the nasal bone where it meets the maxilla; medial osteotomies run near the midline dorsum. Once the cuts are complete, the freed bone segments are gently in-fractured (pressed inward) to narrow the bridge or correct asymmetry.
5. Stabilisation — An external nasal splint (thermoplastic or aluminium) is applied to hold the repositioned bones in their new alignment while they heal. Internal silicone splints may also be placed to support the septum.

Through Seoul Medical Insider, rhinoplasty with osteotomy in Korea is quoted transparently. The price covers the full surgical team, general anaesthesia, the operating facility, the nasal splint, and follow-up appointments. No intermediary fees are charged.

Because osteotomy is almost always part of a comprehensive rhinoplasty, pricing reflects the overall surgical plan. Key cost drivers include whether the rhinoplasty involves dorsal work only or full bridge-and-tip reshaping, whether septoplasty (deviated septum correction) is performed simultaneously, the complexity of the bone asymmetry, and whether the case is primary or revision. Revision cases with prior osteotomies require more delicate bone handling.

All pricing is reviewed and confirmed as of 2026. Share front, profile, and base-view photos through our consultation form for a comprehensive quote.

Osteotomy is a structural technique — it is indicated whenever the nasal bones need to be repositioned as part of a rhinoplasty plan.

• Suited for: Patients with a wide nasal bridge (broad nasal bones) who want a slimmer, more refined frontal appearance.
• Suited for: Patients undergoing hump reduction — osteotomy closes the flat "open roof" left after the hump is rasped, restoring a smooth, narrow dorsum.
• Suited for: Patients with a crooked or deviated nasal bridge caused by asymmetric nasal bones — osteotomy straightens the bony vault.
• Discuss carefully: Patients with very thin nasal bones or a history of nasal fractures — the bones may fragment unpredictably, and the surgeon may need to use piezoelectric instruments for greater control.
• Discuss carefully: Patients expecting osteotomy alone to correct overall nasal width — in some cases the apparent width comes from thick soft tissue rather than wide bones, and osteotomy alone will not achieve the desired narrowing.

• Week 1: The external nasal splint stays in place for 7 days. Periorbital bruising (raccoon eyes) is common and most pronounced on days 2 – 4, then gradually fades. Significant mid-face swelling occurs. Nasal breathing is blocked by internal swelling and any internal splints. Sleep strictly on your back with the head elevated. Do not blow your nose.
• Weeks 2 – 3: Splint is removed at day 7. Internal splints, if placed, are removed around the same time. The nose appears swollen and wider than the final result — this is normal. Bruising typically clears by the end of week 2. Gentle nasal saline irrigations begin. Social activities can cautiously resume.
• Weeks 4 – 8: Most visible swelling resolves. The bridge begins to show its narrower contour. Avoid any activity that risks impact to the nose. Do not wear glasses on the bridge. Light exercise can resume from week 4.
• Months 3 – 12: The nasal bones fully consolidate in their new position by month 3. Residual soft-tissue swelling, particularly in the supratip, resolves gradually over 6 – 12 months depending on skin thickness.

Plan a minimum 10-day stay in Korea. Splint removal (day 7) and a follow-up check (day 10) are critical. The surgeon assesses bone alignment and instructs you on nasal care before you travel. Avoid contact sports for at least 3 months.

Osteotomy is a controlled bone fracture and carries specific risks. Possible complications include asymmetric bone positioning resulting in a crooked-looking bridge, incomplete fracture causing a palpable step-off along the bone line, excessive narrowing making the nasal airway feel restricted, rocker deformity (one bone segment tilting inward while the adjacent segment tilts outward), greenstick fracture where the bone cracks but does not fully mobilise, prolonged periorbital bruising and swelling, numbness along the side of the nose from infraorbital nerve irritation, and rarely, delayed bone callus formation causing a visible or palpable bump. Piezoelectric osteotomy instruments, increasingly used in Korean clinics, reduce the risk of uncontrolled fractures and soft-tissue trauma.

• Share front-view, profile, and bird's-eye (base) photos during your online consultation so the surgeon can evaluate your nasal bone width and symmetry.
• Discontinue all blood thinners, NSAIDs, and supplements (aspirin, ibuprofen, omega-3, vitamin E, ginseng, ginkgo) at least 10 days before surgery.
• Arrange accommodation within 20 minutes of the clinic for the first 10 days. You will attend splint removal (day 7) and a bone-alignment check (day 10).
• Stock up on saline nasal spray — you will use it frequently once cleared by the surgeon to keep the nasal passages moist and help clear dried blood.
• Bring button-front or zip-up clothing. Pulling shirts over your head can bump the nose and displace healing bones.
• If you wear prescription glasses, switch to contact lenses or prepare a forehead-resting glasses strap — no weight on the nasal bridge for 6 weeks.
• Plan for two weeks away from any high-visibility social or professional commitments — periorbital bruising from osteotomy is more pronounced than from soft-tissue rhinoplasty alone.