Rhinoplasty in Brazil, planned from Switzerland.
Flights, timing, pre-op tests done at home, documents in English and what really happens during the week you spend in Maringa. A practical guide for patients based in Switzerland.
Patients living in Switzerland usually start with a video consultation with Dr. Guilherme Sella, do their pre-operative tests at home, then fly to Brazil. Zurich connects to Sao Paulo on a direct flight of about 12 hours, followed by a short domestic leg to Maringa. Plan on 7 to 10 days in Brazil: arrival one or two days before surgery, an in-person consultation, the procedure under general anesthesia, a hospital stay of 12 to 24 hours and cast removal around day 7, when flying home is usually released. Follow-up at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months can be done online.
Why patients living in Switzerland look at Brazil
Brazil has one of the longest traditions in plastic surgery in the world, shaped by the school of Ivo Pitanguy, and appears consistently among the countries with the highest volume of aesthetic procedures in ISAPS surveys. Volume matters in rhinoplasty. It is a technically demanding operation where experience is built nose by nose, not in occasional cases.
Dr. Sella is an otolaryngologist who operates both the function and the shape of the nose, with more than 1,500 rhinoplasties performed. For someone earning in Swiss francs or euros, the total cost of surgery in Brazil tends to be lower than in Western Europe because of a different structure of professional fees, hospital costs and exchange rate. No figure is published online. The surgical plan and the budget are only defined after a consultation, since they depend on technique, operating time and whether grafts are needed.
Credentials you can verify before booking a flight
Medicine in Brazil is regulated by the Federal Council of Medicine. Every specialist has a registration number and a specialist title that can be checked on the state medical board website. Dr. Sella holds CRM-PR 33.018 and RQE 17.984, with the specialist title in Otolaryngology granted by ABORL-CCF in 2014.
Training and academic record worth checking:
- Residency in Otolaryngology at HCFMRP-USP, Ribeirao Preto
- Direct doctorate in Morphophysiology of Facial Structures at HCFMRP-USP, completed in 2018
- Fellowship in structural rhinoplasty in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia
- Certification by the European Board in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Six indexed papers on PubMed, three of them on dorsal preservation rhinoplasty
- Invited faculty in more than ten countries and founder of the Sella Learning Center
More detail is available on the page about Dr. Guilherme Sella.
Step by step from Zurich or Geneva
| Stage | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1. First contact | Message to the team, photos and medical history | Online |
| 2. Video consultation | About one hour, digital simulation, technique explained | Online |
| 3. Pre-operative tests | Blood work and cardiac clearance | Switzerland |
| 4. Travel | Direct flight Zurich to Sao Paulo, domestic leg to Maringa | 1 to 2 days before surgery |
| 5. In-person consultation | Physical exam including the inside of the nose, nasal ultrasound when indicated | Maringa |
| 6. Surgery | General anesthesia, 3 to 5 hours, hospital stay of 12 to 24 hours | Maringa |
| 7. Cast removal | Around day 7, then taping for another week | Maringa |
| 8. Flight home | Usually released after the cast is removed | Back to Switzerland |
| 9. Follow-up | 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, online or in person | Remote |
The video consultation and the time difference
Brazil runs four to five hours behind Switzerland depending on the season. A late morning slot in Maringa falls in the afternoon or early evening in Zurich or Geneva, which usually works well for people who are employed full time.
The consultation lasts about one hour. It covers your history, breathing complaints, previous surgeries or fillers, standardized photographs and a digital simulation. The simulation is a communication tool. Expect something in the range of 60 to 70 percent similarity to the final result, not a contract. The surgeon also explains which technique fits your anatomy, whether preservation rhinoplasty is an option, when ultrasonic instruments are useful, and when structural grafts from septum, ear or rib are the better route.
Consultations are held in English, Portuguese or Spanish.
Tests at home, nose examined in Maringa
You do your blood work and cardiac evaluation in Switzerland and send the results in advance. Reports in English are accepted and reviewed before travel. If something is missing or needs repeating, there is time to solve it before you buy a ticket.
What cannot be done remotely is the internal examination of the nose and, when indicated, high-frequency dermatologic ultrasound. That scan shows skin thickness, old fillers, previous grafts, healed fractures and columellar vascularization. It is performed in the same clinic in Maringa and can change the plan, which is why the in-person consultation happens before surgery, not on the same morning.
Flights, airports and how many days to block
Zurich has a direct connection to Sao Paulo Guarulhos of roughly 12 hours. From Guarulhos there are domestic flights to Maringa airport, code MGF, and also to Curitiba, which is connected to Maringa by air and by road. From Geneva, most itineraries connect through Zurich, Paris, Frankfurt, Madrid or Lisbon.
Plan 7 to 10 days in Brazil. The useful split looks like this:
- Day minus 2 or minus 1: arrival, rest, in-person consultation and exams
- Day 0: surgery and overnight stay at the hospital
- Days 1 to 6: recovery at the hotel, elevated headrest, ice in the first weeks, saline rinses
- Day 7: cast removal and taping, clearance for the flight home
- Days 8 to 10: optional buffer, useful if you prefer to travel with less swelling
A companion is recommended for the first week. The team suggests accommodation close to the clinic, and parking is available next door at Clinica Renassance on Av. Cidade de Leiria, 600, Zona 01.
Surgery, hospital and the first days
Rhinoplasty is performed under general anesthesia, occasionally under sedation in selected cases, and takes 3 to 5 hours. Revision cases take longer. Surgery happens at Saine Health Complex, a boutique hospital in Maringa with 11 operating rooms, adult and neonatal intensive care and intensivists on site around the clock.
An external aquaplast cast stays for about 7 days. Most patients do not need nasal packing. A silicone internal splint is used in some cases for about 10 days. Light bleeding for 48 to 72 hours is expected, periorbital bruising can last up to 15 days, and numbness of the lip or upper teeth may persist for up to 3 months. No glasses for 4 weeks, exercise after 15 days, sun exposure only after a month, sunscreen SPF 30 for 3 months.
Follow-up once you are back in Switzerland
Reviews are scheduled at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months and can be done by video with photographs taken at home. The definitive shape appears between 6 and 12 months, and up to 18 months in thick skin or revision cases. Any discussion about touch-ups only makes sense after 12 months. The international rhinoplasty literature describes revision rates in the range of 5 to 15 percent, and that applies to any surgeon.
The practice is private and does not work with insurance contracts. The clinic issues documentation so you can file a reimbursement request with your Swiss insurer, including the functional part of the operation such as septoplasty, turbinate surgery or sinus surgery. Documents can be issued in English or Spanish on request. Full logistics are described on the page for international patients.
When to contact Dr. Sella
If you live in Switzerland and are considering rhinoplasty, the sensible first step is a video consultation before booking anything. Indication, risks and technique are individual and defined only after examination. You can reach the team through the contact page to check availability and understand what your case would involve.
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 is the flight from Switzerland to Maringa?
Zurich connects to Sao Paulo Guarulhos on a direct flight of about 12 hours, followed by a domestic leg of roughly one hour to Maringa airport. From Geneva, most routes connect through Zurich or another European hub.
How many days do I need to stay in Brazil for rhinoplasty?
Plan 7 to 10 days. You arrive one or two days before surgery for the in-person consultation and exams, stay 12 to 24 hours in hospital, and have the cast removed around day 7, when flying home is usually released.
Can I do the first consultation from Zurich or Geneva?
Yes. The initial consultation is done by video and lasts about one hour, including history, photographs, digital simulation and explanation of the technique. Brazil runs four to five hours behind Switzerland, so afternoon slots in Europe work well.
Will my Swiss insurance reimburse part of the surgery?
The practice is private and does not work with insurance contracts, but the clinic issues documentation so you can file a reimbursement request, including the functional part such as septoplasty or turbinate surgery. Approval depends entirely on your insurer.
How can I verify the surgeon's credentials from abroad?
Medicine in Brazil is regulated by the Federal Council of Medicine, and specialist titles are verifiable on the state medical board website. Dr. Sella holds CRM-PR 33.018 and RQE 17.984, with a doctorate from HCFMRP-USP and publications indexed on PubMed.
How are follow-up appointments handled after I return home?
Reviews at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months can be done by video with standardized photographs taken at home. The definitive result appears between 6 and 12 months, and up to 18 months in thick skin or revision cases.
Is it safe to fly back to Switzerland seven days after rhinoplasty?
The long flight home is usually released after the external cast is removed, around day 7, once Dr. Sella has examined the nose in person. On board, keep hydrated, walk in the aisle, avoid blowing your nose and use saline spray, since cabin air is dry. If your case involves rib grafts or a revision, the team may suggest a slightly longer stay, and this is defined individually at the consultation.
Do I need a visa or a companion to have surgery in Brazil?
Swiss passport holders usually travel to Brazil as tourists without a visa for short stays, but you should confirm current rules with the Brazilian consulate before booking. A companion is recommended for the first week, mainly for the hospital discharge, the first dressing change and transport. If you travel alone, tell the team in advance so support can be organised locally.
Can my pre-operative tests done in Switzerland be accepted in Brazil?
Yes. Blood work and cardiac clearance are normally done in your city of residence and sent to the team for review before travel, which avoids losing days in Brazil. Reports in German, French, Italian or English are accepted, and the anaesthesia team checks whether anything needs to be repeated. Nasal ultrasound and standardised photographs are done in Maringa.
What happens if I need a revision after going back to Switzerland?
Revision rates reported in the literature range from about 5 to 15 percent, and any reassessment is only considered after 12 months, when swelling has settled. Follow-up photographs can be reviewed online, and if a small adjustment is indicated, a new trip is planned with the same stay structure. Dr. Sella also performs secondary rhinoplasty, including cases operated elsewhere, and the plan is always defined after examination.
Book a consultation with Dr. Guilherme Sella
In person in Maringá, Brazil, or by video consultation. English-speaking team.