SECTION 01
Describe function and appearance separately
Report which side feels blocked, whether obstruction changes with sleep, exercise, allergy seasons or injury, and whether there are nosebleeds, sinus symptoms or prior treatment. Appearance goals should be listed separately so neither part is lost in a combined request.
Breathing difficulty can arise from the septum, nasal valves, turbinates, inflammation or other causes. A cosmetic photo cannot diagnose the source. Persistent symptoms need appropriate clinical evaluation, while severe or sudden breathing difficulty requires immediate local emergency care.
- Bring prior ENT assessments, scans or treatment records if available.
- List nasal sprays, allergy treatment and prior trauma.
- Explain what change in breathing would matter in daily life.
SECTION 02
Clarify who assesses the functional problem
Ask whether the proposed surgeon evaluates both functional and aesthetic anatomy and when an otolaryngology opinion or further testing is appropriate. The team should explain the licensed facility, anesthesia plan and whether any functional procedure is medically indicated.
Marketing claims about improved breathing are not a substitute for diagnosis. Consent should distinguish steps intended for airway function from those intended for appearance, together with their uncertainties and risks.
SECTION 03
Understand the interaction between form and support
Septal cartilage can contribute to nasal support and may also be considered as graft material. Straightening, reduction or reconstruction can interact with the bridge, tip and nasal valves, so the plan should be explained as one structural system.
Discuss bleeding, infection, septal perforation, persistent obstruction, altered smell, asymmetry, contour change, graft or implant issues and possible further treatment. The relevance depends on the individual operation and cannot be settled remotely.
SECTION 04
Plan postoperative access before international travel
If the treating team selects general anesthesia and the patient is clinically cleared, the group's common planning pathway is about two inpatient days of observation before discharge. If external sutures are used, review or removal is often considered around day 7, although the clinical team may change that timing. International patients should keep travel flexible and leave only after clinical clearance.
Ask how internal splints, packing, external supports and breathing symptoms will be monitored. International patients should remain close enough for required reviews and should not fly until the treating team has assessed recovery and provided clearance.
- Confirm the plan for nasal blockage and humidification after surgery.
- Know which bleeding or breathing changes require urgent assessment.
- Carry a written summary for follow-up at home.