By Quick answer
Who performs nose surgery in Dubai, and which operation do you need?
Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeon who performs nose surgery. He sees patients at Medcare Hospital Al Safa, Dubai. The right operation depends on your problem, so a careful check comes first. Septoplasty straightens a deviated (bent) septum. Turbinate reduction shrinks swollen ridges inside the nose. Sinus surgery opens blocked sinuses when medicines have not helped. Rhinoplasty changes the outside shape of the nose. Many people need no operation at all.
"Nose surgery" sounds like one operation, but it is really a family of very different ones. Some straighten the inside wall of the nose. Some shrink swollen tissue. Others clear the sinuses, repair a broken nose or change the shape you see in the mirror. If you are looking for a nasal surgery doctor in Dubai, the first thing to know is which problem you actually have. That decides which operation, if any, will help.
Dr. Muhammad Jabbr is a Consultant ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) and Head & Neck Surgeon at the ENT Department of Medcare Hospital, Al Safa, Dubai. His qualifications are MD, MS, DOHNS (England), European Board ORL-HNS and Arab Board ORL-HNS. He has more than 20 years of experience and has performed more than 3,000 ENT procedures. If you want one of the best nose surgeons in Dubai, start by asking for a clear reason behind any operation. This guide explains what each one fixes.
Which nose problems can surgery actually fix?
Surgery works best on problems of structure: something is bent, too big, broken or growing where it should not. It helps less when the only problem is swollen lining, as in allergy, which usually responds to medicines.
Here is how common complaints usually match up:
- One side of the nose is always blocked – often a bent septum. The usual operation is septoplasty.
- Both sides block, swapping from side to side or getting worse lying down – often enlarged turbinates. If sprays do not help, turbinate reduction may be offered.
- Long-lasting facial pressure, thick discharge and repeated sinus infections – often chronic sinusitis. If medicines fail, endoscopic sinus surgery is the usual next step.
- A blocked nose with a poor sense of smell – sometimes nasal polyps. If medicines do not shrink them, they can be removed during sinus surgery.
- A crooked nose after a fall, sport or accident – a nasal fracture. The bones can be set early or repaired later.
- You are unhappy with the shape of your nose, or it is both crooked and blocked – rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty.
Many people have two causes at once, so a careful check comes first.
Septoplasty and turbinate reduction: the breathing operations
Septoplasty
The septum is the thin divider of cartilage and bone down the middle of your nose. When it is badly bent, it can narrow one or both airways. A septoplasty straightens this divider from inside the nostrils. A mild bend is very common and often needs no treatment at all.
Turbinate reduction
Each side of your nose has turbinates: curled shelves of bone covered with soft lining. They warm the air and add moisture to it. In some people they stay swollen, often because of allergy or irritation, and block airflow on both sides. When sprays have not helped, turbinate reduction can make them smaller while keeping their useful lining. It is a short procedure, often done along with septoplasty because the two problems commonly occur together.
Sinus surgery and polyp removal: when the problem is deeper
Your sinuses are air spaces around your nose and eyes. When their small drainage openings stay blocked for months, mucus builds up and infections keep returning.
Modern sinus surgery is done through the nostrils with a slim telescope called an endoscope, so in most cases the face is not cut. The surgeon widens the natural drainage channels. It is generally considered only when proper medical treatment has not controlled your symptoms.
Polyps are soft, grape-like bags of swollen lining that do not usually hurt. Steroid sprays, and sometimes a short course of steroid tablets, can shrink them. If they still block your nose or take away your sense of smell, they can be removed, usually as part of sinus surgery. Polyps can grow back, so sprays often continue afterwards. A polyp or growth on one side only should always be checked, as other growths can look similar.
Broken nose: setting the bones now or repairing later
A broken nose is treated in one of two ways, and timing decides which.
- Early setting (closed reduction). If the bones have shifted, they can often be eased back into line through the nostrils, without cutting the skin. This is usually done once the swelling has eased, within about two weeks of the injury in adults. In children it is done sooner, because their bones heal faster.
- Later repair. Once the bones have healed out of line, they cannot simply be pushed back. A planned rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty, usually several months later, can straighten the nose and any bend in the septum.
If your nose looks straight once the swelling settles and you breathe well, you may need neither. Our page on nasal fracture treatment covers the first steps after an injury.
Seek urgent care after a nose injury if bleeding will not stop, you feel drowsy or keep vomiting, thin clear fluid runs from the nose, or a soft, tender bulge inside the nose blocks both sides. That bulge may be a septal haematoma, which needs draining quickly to protect the cartilage.
Rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty: shape and function together
Rhinoplasty changes the outside of the nose. It can address a hump, a crooked line, a wide or drooping tip, or a nose that is out of balance with the face. Septorhinoplasty does this and also straightens the septum inside, so you can look and breathe better in one operation.
Some shape changes, such as narrowing the nose too much, can weaken its side walls and make breathing harder. An ENT surgeon plans for airflow as well as looks from the start. Every face heals in its own way, swelling can take many months to settle, and no surgeon can promise a perfect result.
How to choose a nasal surgery doctor in Dubai
The right surgeon looks at the whole nose and explains clearly why an operation fits you. These questions are worth asking at your visit:
- What is causing my symptoms? You should get a clear answer based on an examination.
- Have I tried the right medicines long enough? Many blocked noses improve with the correct spray used the correct way.
- Which tests do I need? A nose and sinus specialist will often do a nasal endoscopy in the clinic. A CT scan is usually needed before sinus surgery, and sometimes allergy tests help.
- Does one operation cover everything, or do I need a combination? Fixing the septum but leaving large turbinates or polyps may leave you still blocked.
- What can I realistically expect, and what are the risks? Every operation carries some risk, for example bleeding, infection or needing more treatment later.
Dr. Jabbr sees adults as well as children. In children, surgery on the growing nose is planned with extra care, and many problems are managed without operating. Rhinoplasty for looks alone is usually delayed until the nose has stopped growing, often in the mid to late teens.
When is surgery not the answer?
Allergies, colds, hormonal changes and overuse of decongestant sprays can all block the nose with nothing bent or broken. These usually settle with saline rinses, steroid sprays, antihistamines or stopping the spray that causes rebound congestion.
See a doctor promptly for repeated bleeding or blood-stained discharge from one side, or one-sided blockage that slowly gets worse in an adult. Get emergency care if a sinus infection comes with a swollen or red eyelid, double vision or blurred sight, or a severe headache with fever.
Book an appointment
Not sure which operation, if any, you need? One visit can make things clearer. Dr. Muhammad Jabbr sees patients at the ENT Department, Medcare Hospital, Al Safa (Hadiqa Street, Al Safa 1), Dubai.
Book online with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr or call +971 52 751 7811.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can more than one nose operation be done at the same time?
Yes, quite often. Septoplasty and turbinate reduction are commonly done together. Sinus surgery can be combined with septoplasty when the bent septum blocks access to the sinuses. This means one anaesthetic and a single recovery.
Will a breathing operation change how my nose looks?
Septoplasty, turbinate reduction and sinus surgery are done through the nostrils and usually do not change the outside shape. If you also want a new shape, that needs a rhinoplasty or septorhinoplasty, planned in advance.
Will I be awake during nose surgery?
Most nose operations, such as septoplasty, sinus surgery and rhinoplasty, are carried out under general anaesthetic, meaning you sleep through them. Smaller procedures, such as some turbinate reductions or setting a broken nose, may be done under local anaesthetic. Your surgeon will explain which option suits you.
Is it too late to fix a nose I broke years ago?
Usually not. Old fractures are treated with a planned septorhinoplasty rather than a simple resetting. This can often straighten the nose and improve breathing, but results depend on the damage and how you heal.
Which nose operation has the longest recovery?
Turbinate reduction is often the quickest, with many people back to light work within days. Septoplasty and sinus surgery usually mean one to two weeks of taking it easy, with saline rinses and follow-up visits. Rhinoplasty takes longest to settle: the splint comes off after about a week, but some swelling can last for many months.
Matching the operation to the problem
Each nasal operation fixes a different problem, and many people need none at all. An honest diagnosis comes first. If your nose affects your sleep, sport or daily life, a visit with Dr. Muhammad Jabbr can help you see your options clearly.
