Turkish physician advises COVID-19 vaccination before nose surgery

Ear, nose, throat specialist explains process before, after rhinoplasty amid pandemic, says patients can get jabs 10 days after surgery

With the COVID-19 pandemic still lingering, a Turkish physician has advised that patients should be vaccinated against the coronavirus before undergoing nose surgery.

Dr. Erkan Soylu, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Istanbul’s Medipol Mega University hospital, said that patients can have rhinoplasty ten days after getting their jabs.

"If we look at nose surgeries in particular, I recommend that our patients get vaccinated before the surgery. I must say there is no cure for the coronavirus yet, and vaccination is the most essential way to be protected," he was quoted in a statement released by the hospital.

Regarding unvaccinated patients who underwent a surgery, Soylu said that they can receive their shots 10 days after the operation.

All patients are tested for COVID-19 before the surgery to protect both the healthcare staff and others in hospital, the physician added.

"So, by taking necessary precautions, nose surgeries, as well as other elective surgeries, can be conducted. We too continue the nose surgeries by taking necessary measures," he said.

Addressing the use of face mask after rhinoplasty, Soylu said health staff teach patients how to use masks after hospital discharge as there could be some swelling on the face and nose since the bone and cartilage structure of the area is reshaped during the operation.

Patients are asked to use surgical masks and adjust them in a way that they do not pull down their nose tips, he said, adding those who need to use thick masks due to their profession should have masks that are flat in the vertical level and parallel to the axis of the nose.