Can Rhinoplasty Affect My Sense of Smell or Taste?

Rhinoplasty changes the shape of the nose, but it is the lining and airway inside the nose that decide how well you smell. That is why a change in smell or taste after rhinoplasty is common in the first weeks, why it is usually temporary, and why it is not a sign that anything has gone wrong. This guide explains what the research says about smell and taste after rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty, how long recovery can take, and when to ask for help.

If you are also breathing poorly, our guides to a blocked nose after rhinoplasty and the wider rhinoplasty recovery timeline cover what is normal week by week. For people whose operation also corrects the airway, our page on functional rhinoplasty explains how breathing and appearance are planned together.

Can Rhinoplasty Affect Your Sense of Smell?

Yes, it can, and the usual change is a temporary dip. A 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery pooled 25 studies of septoplasty, septorhinoplasty and rhinoplasty and found that patients often had a transient decrease in smell immediately after surgery, followed by improvement later on, with preoperative and postoperative rates of smell dysfunction both low^[1]. You can read the full paper in the 2021 meta-analysis of olfactory function after nasal surgery ↗.

The reason is mechanical. Smell works because air carrying odour molecules reaches a small patch of specialised tissue high up inside the nose. After surgery the lining swells, and any splints, packing or crusts add to the obstruction. If less air reaches that patch, less smell is detected. Think of it like a heavy cold: the sense organ is intact, but the air cannot get to it.

It also helps to know that most rhinoplasty reshapes the bone and cartilage of the outer framework, and that work on the septum or turbinates is generally lower in the nose than the smell receptors. Surgery cannot make the risk of a lasting change zero, which is why the studies below matter, but it helps explain why the typical pattern is a blockage effect.

Does a Nose Job Affect Your Sense of Taste?

It can dull flavour for a while. The tongue detects five basic tastes, sweet, salty, sour, bitter and savoury (umami). Most of what we call flavour, such as coffee, strawberries or fresh herbs, comes from smell: aroma travels from the back of the mouth up into the nose, a route called retronasal smell. When your nose is blocked or swollen, that route is restricted, so meals taste flatter even though your tongue is working normally.

A Vienna study tested retronasal smell, using a candy-based test, in people having septoplasty, septorhinoplasty or sinus surgery. It found that retronasal smell was frequently impaired in the septorhinoplasty and sinus surgery groups^[6], which underlines how closely flavour depends on airflow through the nose. As the nose clears, flavour usually comes back with it.

A genuine loss of basic taste is not an expected effect of rhinoplasty. If you cannot taste sweet, salt, sour or bitter at all, tell your surgical team, as that can point to something other than nasal swelling.

Why Does Smell Change After a Nose Job?

Several things can reduce smell for a while after septorhinoplasty or rhinoplasty, and they often overlap:

• Swelling of the nasal lining. Surgery irritates the tissue inside the nose, which swells and narrows the airway. Swelling is greatest in the first days and then eases, although a smaller amount can linger for months^[2]. In a 2016 three-dimensional imaging study, about two-thirds of the swelling had resolved by one month and 95% by six months^[2].
• Splints, packing and dressings. Where internal splints or packing are used, they physically restrict airflow until they are removed, which is usually at the first review.
• Crusting and dried blood. Crusts inside the nose can block the narrow upper passages while the lining heals. Our guide to rhinoplasty swelling explains how healing stages overlap.
• Changes in airflow. Straightening a deviated septum, reducing enlarged turbinates or opening a narrow nasal valve changes how air moves through the nose. Early on, the new pattern can be unfamiliar. Once the swelling settles, airflow to the smell region is often better than before.
• Mouth breathing. If you breathe through your mouth for the first week or two, less air passes the smell receptors at all.

It is worth separating these from a smell problem that was there before surgery. The same research shows that smell is often reduced before a person ever has an operation, as the next section explains.

What Does the Research Say About Smell After Rhinoplasty and Septorhinoplasty?

Studies that measure smell with standardised tests, rather than just asking patients, give the most reliable picture. Taken together they point the same way: most people see no lasting change, some improve, and a small minority notice a decrease.

Pooled evidence. A 2022 meta-analysis of septorhinoplasty in Facial Plastic Surgery ↗ included 11 studies that all used objective smell tests before and after surgery. Five reported improvement in the long term, five reported no change and one reported impairment, and the pooled result showed no significant change in smell at late follow-up^[3]. Some studies described a short-lived decline soon after surgery, followed by recovery, sometimes to better than baseline. The authors concluded that septorhinoplasty appears safe for smell in the long term.

A London study. A prospective study from the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital followed 43 people having functional septorhinoplasty. Using sniffing sticks at 12 weeks, scores rose slightly (from 8.3 to 9.6, P < 0.001), yet patients did not report that their own sense of smell had noticeably improved, and there was no difference between open and closed approaches or between first-time and revision operations^[4]. In other words, measurable change was small and may not be something you would notice.

A larger nasal surgery cohort. A study of 150 people having septum surgery, retested around four months later, found smell improved in 13%, was unchanged in 81% and decreased in 7%. The people whose smell fell had tended to have better smell beforehand^[5]. This was a nasal surgery study rather than a cosmetic rhinoplasty study, but it is one of the larger objective datasets and it is honest about the minority who do not improve.

A cautious note. In the Vienna study mentioned earlier, many people having septorhinoplasty already had reduced smell before surgery (47.6% of that group), and when about half were retested at three months, smell had not improved overall^[6]. The sample was small, so it should not be over-read, but it supports the practical point that smell should be checked before surgery and that recovery can take longer than three months in some people.

No study can promise what will happen to an individual, and most of this research comes from functional nasal surgery rather than purely cosmetic operations. That is exactly why it is worth discussing smell and taste at your consultation, particularly if smell matters to your work or to you personally.

How Long Does It Take to Smell Again After a Nose Job?

There is no fixed date, and the research measured smell at different points, from a few weeks to a year. As a rough guide based on typical healing, not a fixed rule:

• First week: smell and taste are often at their lowest, with splints, swelling and a very blocked nose.
• Weeks 1 to 3: splints or packing come out and the worst of the congestion eases. Many people start to notice smells returning, often patchily.
• Weeks 3 to 6: swelling inside the nose continues to settle and smell and flavour usually improve further.
• Months 3 to 12: the nose keeps refining. The studies above re-tested smell at 12 weeks^[4], at three months^[6] and at 12 months^[9] and results varied, so some people are still recovering at this stage.

Our guide to rhinoplasty recovery sets out the full healing timeline, and a short note on pain levels in is rhinoplasty painful may help set expectations for the early days when congestion is most noticeable.

Is Loss of Smell After Rhinoplasty Permanent?

In the studies above, lasting loss of smell after rhinoplasty and septorhinoplasty was uncommon. The 2022 meta-analysis found only one of 11 studies reporting impaired smell at late follow-up^[3], and the larger nasal surgery cohort found a decrease in 7% of people having septum surgery, mostly among those who began with good smell^[5]. These figures describe groups, not guarantees, and it would be wrong to say the risk is zero.

A fair summary is that most people notice a temporary change, a minority notice a lasting one, and your own surgeon can tell you which factors apply to you, for instance whether you are having work on the septum, turbinates or the upper part of the nose. If smell has not begun to recover after several months, ask for an assessment rather than waiting longer. Persistent loss of smell has many causes unrelated to surgery, and the NHS page on loss of smell (anosmia) ↗ explains the common ones and when to seek help.

Can Rhinoplasty Improve Your Sense of Smell?

For some people, yes, particularly when a blockage was holding smell back before surgery. Smell and breathing are closely connected, and several studies have found that improving the airway improves smell:

• A 2021 systematic review of septoplasty found significant improvement across all the smell tests used, drawn from 996 patients, although the authors noted the benefit varied between individuals and called for randomised trials^[7].
• A study of 80 people having septoplasty with turbinate reduction found that self-rated smell improved from 6.1 to 7.9 out of 10, and that this tracked how much their breathing improved. The 40-item smell identification test, however, did not change significantly^[8].
• A prospective study of 47 people with a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates found smell and quality of life improved 12 months after surgery^[9].
• A 2024 systematic review of nine studies found improved smell after surgery on the inferior turbinate, though the studies were varied and the authors called for controlled trials^[10].

The pattern is that smell improves most when breathing improves, and the effect is more likely after surgery that opens the airway than after a purely cosmetic reshaping. If a blocked nose is part of why you are considering surgery, our guides to combining rhinoplasty and septoplasty and the pros and cons of deviated septum surgery explain what to weigh up. Our pages on septoplasty, turbinate reduction and nasal valve collapse describe the individual procedures.

How Can I Help My Sense of Smell Recover After Rhinoplasty?

You cannot force smell to return, but a smooth recovery gives the nose a good chance to clear. Always follow your own surgeon’s instructions, as they will know which techniques were used.

• Protect the nose and keep the head raised. Sleeping with your head elevated helps swelling drain, which helps airflow.
• Do not blow your nose until your surgeon says it is safe, and do not pick at crusts.
• Use saline spray or rinses only as advised. Used correctly, saline can soften crusts and keep the lining moist, but timing and technique vary with the operation.
• Attend every review. Splint removal and early checks are when blockages and crusting are cleared.
• Avoid smoking, which slows healing.
• Give it time, but track it. Make a note of when you first notice smell returning, so you can tell your surgical team if progress stalls.

Be wary of treating smell loss with over-the-counter decongestant sprays or steroid products without asking first. Some are unsuitable straight after surgery or only suitable for a few days. Your surgeon can advise on what is appropriate for your situation, and our aftercare guidance covers day-to-day dos and don’ts.

When Should I Be Worried About Loss of Smell After Nose Surgery?

Contact your surgical team if:

• smell has not started to return after about three months, or has become worse rather than better
• you lose your sense of smell suddenly, long after the early recovery period
• loss of smell comes with a fever, a foul-tasting or heavy nasal discharge, increasing pain or redness around the nose
• you cannot taste basic sweet, salty, sour or bitter flavours

Persistent loss of smell has many causes, including colds, nasal polyps, allergies and sinus disease, and it can be treated or assessed by an ear, nose and throat specialist. Only your own team can say whether a change is related to your operation. For urgent symptoms such as heavy bleeding, chest pain or difficulty breathing, call 999.

Frequently Asked Questions: Smell and Taste After Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty in London

Rhinoplasty at our CQC-regulated Baker Street hospital begins with a consultation in which your goals, your breathing and any history of smell problems are discussed. If you are comparing options, our pages on rhinoplasty in London and the rhinoplasty before and after photos show how the operation is approached and what results look like.

Phone: 020 7993 4849 | Address: 95–97 Baker Street, Marylebone, London W1U 6RN
Contact us to schedule a consultation

References

1. Pfaff MJ, Bertrand AA, Lipman KJ, et al. The effect of functional nasal surgery on olfactory function. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2021;147(3):707–718. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000007667 ↗
2. Pavri S, Zhu VZ, Steinbacher DM. Postoperative edema resolution following rhinoplasty: a three-dimensional morphometric assessment. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2016;138(6):973e–979e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000002760 ↗
3. Sousa FA, Santos M, Correia JT, et al. Septorhinoplasty and the late impact on olfactory function: a review and meta-analysis. Facial Plastic Surgery 2023;39(1):69–76 (published online 2022). doi:10.1055/a-1979-8636 ↗
4. Randhawa PS, Watson N, Lechner M, et al. The outcome of septorhinoplasty surgery on olfactory function. Clinical Otolaryngology 2016;41(1):15–20. doi:10.1111/coa.12463 ↗
5. Pade J, Hummel T. Olfactory function following nasal surgery. The Laryngoscope 2008;118(7):1260–1264. doi:10.1097/MLG.0b013e318170b5cb ↗
6. Besser G, Liu DT, Sharma G, et al. Ortho- and retronasal olfactory performance in rhinosurgical procedures: a longitudinal comparative study. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology 2021;278(2):397–403 (published online 2020). doi:10.1007/s00405-020-06300-4 ↗
7. Grabosky A, Mackers P, Langdon C, Alobid I. Change in olfactory function after septoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rhinology 2021;59(2):144–150. doi:10.4193/Rhin20.252 ↗
8. Gillman GS, Bakeman AE, Soose RJ, et al. Will nasal airway surgery improve my sense of smell? A prospective observational study. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology 2023;13(8):1511–1517 (published online 2022). doi:10.1002/alr.23115 ↗
9. Mackers P, Rojas-Lechuga MJ, Langdon C, Nogués A, Mullol J, Alobid I. Septoplasty and/or inferior turbinoplasty produce significant improvements of the sense of smell. Rhinology 2023;61(5):421–431. doi:10.4193/Rhin22.461 ↗
10. Esteves S, Sousa-Machado A, Silva A, Meireles L, Almeida A. Olfactory function and surgery of the lateral nasal wall: systematic review. Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery 2024;76(5):3895–3904. doi:10.1007/s12070-024-04739-z ↗