Although the loss of the sense of smell is very rare, it may happen. Dr. Rizk has not had this happen to his patients, and he’s performed thousands of rhinoplasties. The sense of smell may be lost also from a cold or viral infection. Sometimes the sense of smell, if it is diminished before the septoplasty/rhinoplasty procedure, can improve if a significantly deviated septum, contributing to a loss of sense of smell, is repaired. A nasal polyp can also cause a diminished or absent sense of smell and removing a nasal polyp may improve the sense of smell.