Rhinoplasty in Brazil, planned from Portugal.
A direct flight from Lisbon reaches São Paulo in roughly 10 hours. One short domestic connection later you are in Maringá, where consultation, surgery, hospital stay and cast removal fit into a single trip.
Patients living in Portugal can have rhinoplasty in Brazil with a plan that starts remotely. The first step is a video consultation with Dr. Guilherme Sella, who reviews your history, photos and goals and explains the technique he would propose. Blood tests and any imaging are done in Lisbon, Porto or your own city. You arrive in Maringá one to two days before surgery and stay about 7 to 10 days, until the external cast comes off. Flying home is usually released after the dressing is removed. Follow-up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months can be done online, with documents issued in English when requested.
Why patients in Portugal look at Brazil for rhinoplasty
Brazil has a long surgical tradition in facial surgery, built around the school of Ivo Pitanguy, and is consistently among the countries with the highest volume of aesthetic procedures in the world according to ISAPS surveys. High volume alone means nothing. What matters for you is that this volume created a dense network of training, congresses and specialized hospitals, so that a surgeon who operates the nose full time can realistically do so in a mid-sized city like Maringá.
There is also a practical reason. Surgical fees, hospital structure and the exchange rate mean that the total cost of a procedure in Brazil is usually lower than the equivalent in Western Europe for someone earning in euros. No figures are published here, because the budget depends on technique, surgical time and whether cartilage grafts are needed, and it is only presented after the consultation. What you should know in advance is that the quote includes the surgical team, hospital, anesthesia and all scheduled follow-up visits.
How to verify a Brazilian surgeon from abroad
Medicine in Brazil is regulated by the Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM). Every doctor has a CRM registration number, and specialists hold an RQE, a registry of specialist qualification. Both can be checked on the state medical council website before you book anything.
For reference, Dr. Guilherme Constante Preis Sella holds CRM-PR 33.018 and RQE 17.984 in Otorhinolaryngology. He trained in residency at HCFMRP-USP in Ribeirão Preto, completed a direct doctorate in Morphophysiology of Facial Structures at the same institution in 2018, and did a fellowship in structured rhinoplasty in Melbourne and Sydney. He is certified by the European Board in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, a title that tends to be familiar to patients in Portugal. His publications on dorsal preservation are indexed on PubMed, including papers in Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics of North America. More detail is available on the surgeon's profile page.
Being an ENT surgeon matters here. The nose is operated as one structure, breathing and shape together, which is why septoplasty, turbinate surgery and valve correction are part of the same procedure when indicated.
The first step: a video consultation
Portugal is three to four hours ahead of Maringá depending on daylight saving. A late afternoon slot in Brazil is usually early evening in Lisbon, so scheduling is simple.
The video consultation lasts around an hour. It covers your history, previous nasal trauma or surgery, breathing complaints, allergies, and what specifically bothers you about the nose. You will be asked for standardized photographs beforehand. Digital simulation is used to align expectations, with the usual caveat the surgeon repeats to every patient: a simulation reflects roughly 60 to 70 percent of what the final nose will look like.
The technique is discussed openly. Dorsal preservation, ultrasonic work with a piezoelectric instrument, or a structured approach with grafts. Each has indications and limits. You can read more about preservation rhinoplasty and ultrasonic rhinoplasty before the call so the conversation is more productive.
If you have had surgery before, mention it at the first contact. Revision rhinoplasty takes longer, may require rib or ear cartilage, and changes the planning of your trip.
What you do in Portugal before flying
Nothing requires an extra trip. Preoperative work is done at home and sent digitally.
- Blood tests and cardiac clearance when age or history indicates, done in Lisbon, Porto or your own city.
- A CT scan of the sinuses if there is a functional complaint.
- Photographs following the protocol the team sends.
- Review of medication, supplements and smoking, with instructions on what to suspend.
- Portuguese passport holders currently do not need a tourist visa for Brazil for short stays. Confirm current rules with the Brazilian consulate before buying tickets.
On arrival in Maringá there is an in-person appointment before surgery. High frequency dermatologic ultrasound of the nose may be performed at that point, to assess skin thickness, previous fillers, grafts or old fractures.
Flights and timing from Lisbon and Porto
| Leg | Typical duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lisbon to São Paulo (GRU) | About 10 hours, direct | Overnight flights arrive in the morning |
| Porto to São Paulo | Usually via Lisbon | Add one connection |
| São Paulo (GRU or CGH) to Maringá (MGF) | About 1h30, direct | Several daily departures |
| Curitiba to Maringá | About 1 hour | Alternative routing |
Maringá also receives patients arriving by road from the interior of São Paulo, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay. The team advises on accommodation near the clinic and on transfers. A companion is recommended for the first week.
Your 7 to 10 days in Maringá
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| D-2 to D-1 | Arrival, rest, in-person consultation, ultrasound if indicated, final planning |
| D0 | Surgery under general anesthesia, 3 to 5 hours, longer in revisions. Admission of 12 to 24 hours at Saine Health Complex |
| D1 | Discharge, first dressing check, instructions on ice, saline irrigation and sleeping at 30 degrees |
| D2 to D6 | Swelling and bruising peak then decline. Light bleeding in the first 48 to 72 hours is expected |
| D7 | Removal of the external aquaplast cast. Taping for one more week. Flying home usually released at this point |
| D8 to D10 | Optional buffer days if you prefer not to fly immediately |
Most patients do not need nasal packing. A silicone internal splint is used in selected cases for about 10 days, which is one reason some travelers prefer a 10 day stay. No glasses for 4 weeks, no exercise for 15 days, no sun, beach or pool for a month, and SPF 30 for three months. Detailed logistics are described on the international patients page.
Follow-up after you return home
Scheduled reviews happen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. For patients living in Portugal these are normally done by video, with photographs sent in advance. The clinic team communicates by WhatsApp in Portuguese, English or Spanish.
The nose keeps changing long after you land in Lisbon. The definitive result appears between 6 and 12 months, and up to 18 months in thick skin or revision cases. Published revision rates in rhinoplasty sit broadly between 5 and 15 percent, and any discussion about a touch-up only happens after 12 months.
Practice is private, without Brazilian health insurance. The clinic issues documentation for reimbursement requests, including the functional portion such as septoplasty, turbinate surgery or endoscopic sinus surgery, with reports in English or Spanish when requested. Whether your Portuguese insurer accepts it depends on your policy.
When to talk to Dr. Sella
A video consultation makes sense if you dislike the shape of your nose, if you have breathing difficulty, if you have had previous surgery, or if you simply want a second opinion before deciding where to operate. Indication, risks and the surgical plan are individual and defined only after a full evaluation. You can start the conversation through the contact page or read the general overview of rhinoplasty first.
Otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon · CRM-PR 33.018 · RQE 17.984. PhD from FMRP-USP, founder of the Sella Learning Center. Updated on 2026-10-15.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to stay in Brazil for rhinoplasty?
Plan for 7 to 10 days in Maringá. You arrive one or two days before surgery and stay until the external cast is removed on about day 7, when flying home is usually released.
Do I need to travel to Brazil for the first consultation?
No. The first consultation can be done by video, with standardized photographs sent beforehand and digital simulation during the call. An in-person appointment takes place in Maringá before surgery.
Is it safe to fly 10 hours back to Lisbon after rhinoplasty?
Flying is generally released after the external cast is removed, around day 7. The surgeon confirms this individually at the in-person review, taking into account swelling, bleeding and the technique used.
How can I check the surgeon's credentials from Portugal?
Brazilian doctors are registered with a CRM number and specialists hold an RQE, both verifiable on the state medical council website. Dr. Sella holds CRM-PR 33.018 and RQE 17.984 and is certified by the European Board in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Will my insurance in Portugal reimburse part of the surgery?
The clinic issues detailed documentation for reimbursement requests, including the functional part such as septoplasty or turbinate surgery, in English or Spanish when needed. Acceptance depends entirely on your insurer and policy.
What language is used during consultation and follow-up?
Portuguese, English or Spanish. For patients from Portugal, consultations are usually in Portuguese, and written reports can be issued in English on request.
How do I get from Lisbon to Maringá?
There are no direct flights, so the usual route is a flight to São Paulo, at Guarulhos or Congonhas, and then a domestic connection to Maringá airport, code MGF. Curitiba is another possible connection. The team can help you plan arrival so that you land one to two days before surgery, with time to rest and complete the pre-operative assessment in person.
What tests do I need before surgery, and can I do them in Portugal?
Blood work and any imaging requested can be done in Lisbon, Porto or your own city, and the results are reviewed before your trip is confirmed. The exact list depends on your age, health history and the technique planned, so it is defined after the video consultation. In some cases a high frequency nasal ultrasound is performed in Maringá before surgery to assess skin thickness, previous fillers or grafts.
Should I travel with a companion?
A companion is recommended for the first week, especially in the first days after discharge, when you will be resting with the head elevated and avoiding effort. If you travel alone, the team can organize practical support and indicate accommodation close to the clinic. This is discussed in advance so your stay is planned realistically.
Where is the surgery performed and how long do I stay in hospital?
Rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, or sedation in selected cases, at Saine Health Complex in Maringá, a hospital with adult and neonatal intensive care and intensivists available at all times. The usual admission is 12 to 24 hours, depending on how you recover from anesthesia. The surgery itself generally takes 3 to 5 hours, and revision cases tend to take longer.
Book a consultation with Dr. Guilherme Sella
In person in Maringá, Brazil, or by video consultation. English-speaking team.