Dr Thomas ColsonRhinoplasty · Abu Dhabi
Is your nose concern about breathing, appearance, or both?
This short, private self-check helps you understand whether your concern is mainly functional (breathing), aesthetic (appearance), or both — and what a consultation could address. The breathing part uses the validated NOSE questionnaire. It is educational only and not a diagnosis; nothing you enter is saved or sent.
Breathing — the NOSE questionnaire
The NOSE (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation) scale is a validated five-item score (0–100) for nasal blockage. The five items are:
- Nasal congestion or stuffiness
- Nasal blockage or obstruction
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- Trouble sleeping or snoring because of the nose
- Unable to get enough air through the nose during exercise or exertion
Appearance and context
The self-check also asks how much the look of your nose bothers you, and whether blockage is worse on one side or follows a previous injury or operation — clues that often point to a structural cause worth examining. An aesthetic concern is usually planned with a Crisalix 3D simulation at consultation.
Insurance for functional nasal surgery in Abu Dhabi
Functional nasal surgery — for example septoplasty or septorhinoplasty to relieve a documented blocked airway — may be eligible for insurance (for instance under Thiqa) when nasal airway obstruction is documented. Cosmetic rhinoplasty is not covered. Eligibility depends on your specific plan and is always confirmed individually at SKMC.
Questions
Is my nose concern about breathing or appearance?
It can be either or both. If answers point mostly to nasal blockage it is a functional (breathing) concern; if they point mostly to how the nose looks it is usually aesthetic; many people have both. Only an in-person examination can find the cause of blockage, such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates.
Is functional nasal surgery covered by insurance in Abu Dhabi?
Functional nasal surgery such as septoplasty or septorhinoplasty for a documented blocked airway may be eligible for insurance (for example under Thiqa) when nasal airway obstruction is documented. Cosmetic rhinoplasty is not covered. Eligibility depends on your specific plan and is confirmed individually at SKMC.
What is the NOSE questionnaire?
The NOSE (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation) scale is a validated five-item questionnaire that scores nasal obstruction from 0 to 100. It gauges how much nasal blockage affects you, but only an in-person examination can determine the cause.
Explore
This page is for education and reassurance only and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for a consultation. Dr Colson is a licensed Consultant Plastic Surgeon under the DOH, licence GD47532; all services comply with UAE healthcare regulations.