Understanding and Preparing for Functional Rhinoplasty Coverage in Detail

Hello. We are Oji-ko N Plus Clinic, focusing only on your healthy and beautiful nose for 16 years.

The topic we will introduce this time is functional rhinoplasty coverage.

Recently, many people can be said to invest both money and time in improving their appearance. Like a trend, many people consistently work to refine their outward look and put in a lot of effort to gain confidence and a sense of satisfaction from changing appearances. In this way, people try various methods such as dieting, exercise, makeup, and hairstyles to improve themselves, but they are also highly interested in plastic surgery to address areas that still feel lacking despite these efforts.

Therefore, when looking into plastic surgery to change our facial features, one of the most popular procedures is nose surgery. The nose is located at the center of our face, plays a role in balancing all facial features, and is the most three-dimensional part. If the shape of the nose is not a straight line, such as having a hump, being low, upturned, or crooked, these features can remain bothersome and become a complex. For that reason, many people hope to improve it into a beautiful line through nose surgery.

A type suitable for functional rhinoplasty can be rhinitis. Rhinitis is a condition that more than 70% of adults in Korea have, and it can be divided into two types: allergic rhinitis and structural rhinitis. The most representative symptom is nasal congestion. In the case of allergic rhinitis, it is a type of rhinitis that reacts to specific substances such as dust mites, pollen, food, and dust, and it is difficult to cure completely. Improvement can be expected through continuous medication and constitutional improvement. On the other hand, structural rhinitis is in a different condition due to causes such as a deviated septum, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and nasal valve stenosis, but it commonly causes nasal congestion by obstructing the flow of air entering through the nose. In the case of such structural rhinitis, improvement through surgery is possible, so more and more people are undergoing functional rhinoplasty, which combines functional nasal surgery and cosmetic rhinoplasty. In the case of functional rhinoplasty, the surgical materials and methods applied vary depending on the diagnosis, so checking whether you are eligible for functional rhinoplasty coverage along with the cost can help ease the financial burden.

As mentioned, in the case of structural rhinitis, which can be cured through surgery, the representative symptom is nasal congestion. However, it is usually difficult to determine whether the condition of the nose is a cold, allergic rhinitis, or structural rhinitis based on nasal congestion alone. If cosmetic surgery is performed without checking these functional aspects of the nose, postoperative functional problems may instead cause nasal congestion.

Therefore, even if there are no functional symptoms, the condition of the nose should be checked through equipment before surgery, and the operation should be performed using methods and materials suitable for the individual. To diagnose the condition of the nose, which has a complex internal and external structure, it is recommended that you carefully check whether the medical staff have strong anatomical knowledge of the nose, whether they have extensive experience and career history, whether the procedure is safe, whether aftercare is clearly provided, and whether guidance on functional rhinoplasty coverage is available before choosing a clinic.

For those looking into nose surgery because of nasal congestion, symptoms are often left untreated due to financial burden and can develop into chronic rhinitis. If it becomes chronic, headaches, migraines, chronic fatigue, and reduced concentration may occur, causing significant inconvenience in daily life. Therefore, if nasal congestion persists for more than two weeks, it may be helpful to visit a nearby hospital to check the condition of the nose and then consider whether treatment and surgery are necessary. Among the ways to reduce the financial burden, functional rhinoplasty coverage should be checked in detail by confirming diagnoses such as a deviated septum, rhinitis-related rhinoplasty, nasal valve reconstruction, and nasal bone fracture, as well as whether coverage applies to surgery or treatment.

At Oji-ko N Plus Clinic, to ensure a satisfying nose surgery, various preoperative tests such as allergy testing, functional testing, 3D-CT scanning, and internal endoscopy are performed to check internal nasal problems, the condition and position of the nasal bones, skin thickness, and the presence of cartilage. Surgery is then performed using methods and materials suited to each individual’s condition. In addition, if structural rhinitis is accompanied, we provide careful guidance regarding functional rhinoplasty coverage.

As for the surgical methods for functional rhinoplasty, the functional improvement procedure is performed first: a deviated septum is straightened, enlarged inferior turbinates are reduced using a laser, and nasal valve stenosis is treated by selecting one of four methods to widen the nasal valve area. After functional improvement, additional cosmetic rhinoplasty is performed. As such, the method and materials used in functional rhinoplasty vary depending on each person’s internal nasal condition, and if surgery that does not match the symptoms is performed, nasal congestion may not improve at all and may even worsen. Therefore, it is important to accurately assess the inside of the nose first and then perform the appropriate surgery.

In addition, the procedure for functional rhinoplasty insurance is as follows.

1. Detailed examination

2. Confirmation of eligibility for payment and reimbursement rate

3. Surgery and treatment

4. Check the documents required for actual medical expense insurance claims and request issuance from the hospital

5. Submit the individual documents to the insurance company

6. Receive the insurance payout after the individual insurance review

This is how the process is carried out.

Lastly, at Oji-ko N Plus Clinic, Director Yoon Hyun-cheol personally handles everything one-on-one to ensure a satisfying and safe nose surgery, directly overseeing the entire process from consultation for nose surgery, to surgical planning, procedure, treatment, and follow-up care.

After surgery, an N Plus membership card is issued, providing a one-year warranty through the after-sales service system. In addition, the clinic operates a surgical responsibility guarantee system in case of postoperative pain, inflammation, or dissatisfaction with the appearance that may occur. If you hold an N Plus membership card, you can receive aftercare benefits at any time.

(These are before-and-after photos of functional rhinoplasty at Oji-ko N Plus Clinic.)

That concludes the detailed explanation of functional rhinoplasty insurance at Oji-ko N Plus Clinic. I hope this post is helpful to those who are currently experiencing inconvenience in daily life due to nasal congestion caused by rhinitis. Thank you.