Saddle nose & nasal reconstruction.
With a saddle nose the bridge of the nose has collapsed — the profile looks dented and the tip is often turned upwards. A saddle nose can arise after an accident, after previous surgery, through inflammatory disease or through a natural predisposition. In nasal reconstruction we restore the natural height and structure of the bridge — preferably with the body's own cartilage.
When the bridge of the nose lacks support.
With a saddle nose the bridge — usually in the middle and lower third — has collapsed. In profile the characteristic “saddle” appears, the nose looks shortened and the tip is often raised. The cause is a lack of supporting structure: cartilage or bone that would normally hold the nose in shape is missing or has lost stability.
The reasons range from accidents and injuries through previous operations to inflammatory diseases or a constitutional weakness. Because the support of the nose also carries its function, a saddle nose is not infrequently associated with obstructed breathing.
Why is cartilage grafted?
Univ. Doz. Dr Rafic Kuzbari explains why cartilage is grafted in rhinoplasty and how it stabilises the shape in the long term.
Saddle nose & nasal reconstruction at a glance
| The aim of the operation | Building up and stabilising the bridge of the nose, restoring the profile and the breathing |
|---|---|
| Duration | from 2 hours |
| Recovery, everyday life | 2 – 3 weeks |
| Recovery, sport | 4 – 6 weeks |
| Final result | 6 – 12 months in rare cases later still |
| Specialists | Kuzbari, Grill, Wittmann |
A stable structure from your own cartilage.
To build up a collapsed bridge we prefer to use the body's own cartilage — it grows in, is accepted by the body as its own tissue and provides a natural, lastingly stable foundation. Depending on the amount required, cartilage from the nasal septum, the ear or the rib area can be used.
Which route is best in your case we establish together in the consultation — matched to your anatomy, the nature of your skin and the result you want.
How thick is your skin?
In nasal reconstruction the nature of the skin plays an important role in the result — Univ. Doz. Dr Kuzbari explains why.
Your nasal reconstruction step by step
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01
The first consultation
Getting to know each other personally, a detailed analysis, a 3D simulation with Vectra technology, before-and-after comparisons and a thorough explanation of the process.
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02
Preparation
Medical examinations, an anaesthetic consultation, individual surgical planning — including the question of which area the body's own cartilage will be taken from.
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03
The operation
The procedure in one of our modern operating theatres. The bridge of the nose is built up and stabilised with the body's own cartilage, to restore its height, profile and structure.
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04
Aftercare & healing
The recovery room, a follow-up conversation, discharge with your surgeon's emergency number, regular check-ups until the final result after 6 – 12 months.
What you receive with us
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The body's own material
Preferably the body's own cartilage, for a natural, lastingly stable result.
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Form and function
We restore the profile and keep free breathing in view.
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Experienced specialists
Three specialists focused exclusively on facial surgery: Univ. Doz. Dr Kuzbari, Dr Grill and DDr. Wittmann.
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State-of-the-art technology
Vectra 3D simulation and our own high-tech operating theatres.
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Everything under one roof
Consultation, operation and aftercare — all in one place.
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Experience with follow-up surgery
Even after previous operations we help previously operated noses to a stable result.
„A collapsed nasal bridge needs a stable support — the body's own cartilage is the most natural foundation for that.“
A profile that has its support back.
When the bridge of the nose has its natural height and line again, the whole profile looks more balanced — and for many patients the nose feels “complete” again for the first time in a long while.
What we set out to achieve is a result that looks natural and stays stable.
Three surgeons for your nasal reconstruction
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Univ. Doz. Dr Rafic Kuzbari
Specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery
Over 30 years of experience; internationally regarded as an expert in revision procedures and complex rhinoplasty.
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Dr Christoph Grill
Specialist in Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery
A specialist in aesthetic and functional rhinoplasty with a focus on natural results.
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DDr. Jessica Wittmann
Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
Combines the surgical and the aesthetic eye: precise nasal surgery with a sense for harmonious proportions.
Answers about saddle nose & nasal reconstruction
What is the bridge of the nose built up with?
We prefer to use the body's own cartilage — from the nasal septum, the ear or the rib area. The body's own tissue is accepted by the body and provides a natural, stable foundation.
Why the body's own cartilage and not an implant?
The body's own material grows in and is considered particularly well tolerated and stable in the long term. Which option is best suited in your case we discuss individually in the consultation.
Is the breathing improved too?
Because the support of the nose also carries its function, a saddle nose is often associated with obstructed breathing. We take the function of the nose into account and restore it as well where necessary.
Is nasal reconstruction painful?
During the operation you feel nothing thanks to the anaesthesia. After the procedure our patients usually report only mild pain — easily treated with painkillers.
How long does healing take?
After 2 – 3 weeks you are presentable; after 4 – 6 weeks you can resume sport. The final result is visible after 6 – 12 months, in rare cases only after 18 months.
What does nasal reconstruction cost?
The cost depends on the extent of the procedure — a reconstruction with the body's own cartilage is more demanding than a purely shape-related correction. At the first consultation you receive a transparent quotation.
