What is ultrasonic rhinoplasty and what are its advantages?

Updated on 8 September 2026 • Reviewed by Dr. Gustavo Sordo, plastic surgeon

Ultrasonic rhinoplasty is a surgical operation designed to reshape the nose to improve its appearance and functionality. In other words, it can be performed for aesthetic or functional reasons, thus improving both the patient's appearance and their breathing.

Why is it called “ultrasonic” rhinoplasty?

It is called ultrasonic because it is performed using a surgical tool called a “piezoelectric scalpel,” which works by emitting ultrasonic waves, which allow for greater control when carving the bone and less impact on the patient's tissues, having a very positive impact on a much faster and less painful recovery, since many of the “knocks during carving” have been avoided in the process.
Dr. Gustavo Sordo was a pioneer in the ultrasound technique in Spain thanks to his training abroad (Here you can see their training).

How does the piezoelectric scalpel work?

The piezoelectric scalpel emits ultrasound waves in contact with the bone or cartilage, thus allowing it to be cut for rhinoplasty. When carving the bone or cartilage, it allows for greater precision, thus giving the plastic surgeon millimetric control.

What advantages does ultrasonic rhinoplasty have over traditional rhinoplasty?

In contrast to the " sculptor-like blows " that a surgeon must make when performing a traditional rhinoplasty, using a hammer and chisel to shape the nasal bone until the desired size and shape are obtained, ultrasonic rhinoplasty is a technique that does not involve blows in the carving, being finer, more perfect and precise, and, in addition, less invasive and more careful with the bones and tissues of the nasal area.

The “traditional” technique involves greater damage to the tissues , which are struck when the bone is reduced, and which are usually devastated, commonly causing swelling and bruising, along with a greater degree of postoperative pain, which ultimately leads to a slower recovery than with ultrasonic rhinoplasty.

In this sense, in ultrasonic rhinoplasty, by not subjecting the bones in the nose area to these blows, the damage to the tissues is less, so the postoperative swelling is also less, bruises do not appear, or they are to a small extent and, ultimately, recovery is much faster and less painful, allowing a return to normal life in record time thanks to ultrasonic rhinoplasty.

Furthermore, by using the piezoelectric scalpel in ultrasonic rhinoplasty, greater control is achieved when giving the desired shape and size to the nasal bones, so the final result is also always more faithful to the result desired by the patient.

What anesthesia is used in ultrasonic rhinoplasty?

The type of anesthesia that Dr. Gustavo Sordo uses in all his ultrasonic rhinoplasty operations is general TIVA type. This type of anesthesia has many advantages over local anesthesia (greater safety during the operation for the patient, since there is an anesthesiologist in the operating room monitoring the patient's vital signs) and over traditional general anesthesia, since it allows recovery from anesthesia without vomiting or discomfort.

Discover all the advantages of TIVA anesthesia here.

For the safety of our patients, our protocol establishes one night of hospitalization, so that patients are always under medical observation in the hours following surgery.

What is recovery like after ultrasonic rhinoplasty?

Because the tissues suffer less damage through the use of the piezoelectric scalpel, recovery is actually very fast.

The complete recovery period, taking into account the time from when the patient leaves the operating room until his or her return to normal social life, is approximately six or seven days.

The results are noticeable from day one, although it takes about a year for the tissues to fully settle and for the final result to be seen. Here you can see some of the results of ultrasonic rhinoplasty performed by Dr. Gustavo Sordo.

You can find out all the details of the post-operative period for ultrasonic rhinoplasty in this post.

Additionally, you can read more about the complete rhinoplasty process with Dr. Gustavo Sordo here.