Can Rhinoplasty Help Me Breathe Better?

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty isn’t always 100 percent about modifying the shape of a nose for the sake of its appearance. Many times, it’s done to repair nasal irregularities or deformities. Getting a nose job, or rhinoplasty, to enhance your ability to breathe better can dramatically improve your overall health, which can result in better energy and sleep as well as improved mental health and outlook. The actual shape of a nose or irregular cartilage growth can sometimes partially block an individual’s breathing passages. For people who face these conditions, rhinoplasty may be a necessity rather than a choice.

Is Rhinoplasty a Common Procedure?

Medical experts claim that rhinoplasty is currently the third most widely performed plastic surgery across the U.S. For young people ages 13-19, it’s the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure performed today. However, rhinoplasty is a very complicated surgery to perform. Therefore, it’s strongly recommended to see an experienced board certified plastic surgeon with a specialty in facial cosmetic surgery.

A rhinoplasty procedure has to consider practical function in addition to just appearance. If the procedure is done incorrectly, the nose may not be able to function properly. Using an unqualified or inexperienced surgeon greatly increases the risks of causing damage to the nose along with other problems. Altering the nose cosmetically can impact a person’s ability to breathe properly as well as enhance its appearance.

Causes of Nasal Obstruction

Enlarged turbinates, middle vault narrowing, and deviated septums can all influence normal breathing. These can occur naturally or be the result of an injury to the nose, such as playing physical sports. They can be a combination of the two or simply occur alone and are the culprit behind the majority of obstructive nasal issues.

  • Enlarged Turbinates – Turbinates are essentially the humidifiers of the nose. They primarily consist of nasal mucosa and can sometimes swell and become enlarged as a response to the environment, such as allergies. Also, they can be influenced by the position of the body, which can make it even more difficult to breathe properly due to the increased gravitational pressure. In general, this particular effect is normal swelling and shouldn’t be much of a concern. But, if the turbinates are chronically enlarged or if the nasal passages are obstructed on one of both sides, surgery can offer relief.
  • Middle Vault Narrowing (Collapse) – If the middle nasal sidewalls (middle vault) are weak, this is sometimes referred to as ‘collapse’. This can often be relieved by wearing adhesive strips on the nose to help open up the nasal passages. In chronic or more severe cases, surgery may be a necessary option.
  • Deviated Septums – The role of the septum is to separate the right and left side of the nose, which is formed by a sheet of cartilage. While no one has a perfectly straight septum, the degree of deviation in some people is significant enough to impede their normal breathing. A deviated (bent) septum can block air passages and make a person’s normal breathing pattern much more difficult.

If you’re experiencing breathing problems due to the structure of your nose, contact Steven Warnock MD. Along with our medical team, Dr. Warnock can talk to you about your options and desired results concerning rhinoplasty.