Can Rhinoplasty Correct Breathing Issues?

Functional rhinoplasty helps reshape the nose, alleviating nasal blockages. The low-risk surgery is more than a cosmetic procedure: It can help improve the quality of breathing. Find out whether rhinoplasty could help correct your breathing issues.

Treating Nasal Obstruction

There are different reasons why an individual could have a nasal obstruction. The most common cause is a deviated nasal septum. It is the divider inside the nose, which, when deviated, often causes unilateral nasal obstruction.

An obstruction could also be due to external and internal nasal valve collapse. A rhinoplasty, which can change the bone, cartilage, and skin, can resolve it. A physical exam can help determine the best way to correct the nasal obstruction.

Correcting Breathing Issues

Breathing problems can lead to sleep difficulties, snoring, frequent nosebleeds, dry mouth, and colds. Rhinoplasty can correct breathing issues by reshaping the nose. If one side of the nose does not have adequate support to maintain pressure, it can affect breathing. A nose job can provide support for the external nose. Issues that cause difficulty breathing include:

• Enlarged mucosal structures in the nose
  
  

• Congenital disorders such as the cleft palate
  
  

• Small nostrils or a narrow nasal bridge
  
  

• A deviated septum
  
  

• Nasal valve collapse due to trauma or injury
  
  

• Nasal masses or polyps

Results of Rhinoplasty

After a rhinoplasty, it will take some time before you experience perfect breathing. You will go through the healing process as the swelling goes down. It can take a week or two for the swelling to resolve, creating a more open airway.

Patients experience significant improvements in their breathing after rhinoplasty. Most patients recover sufficiently within a few days and are ready to return to work after one week.

Reasons to Get Rhinoplasty

Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their nose for one reason or another. A rhinoplasty can help an individual acquire an aesthetically pleasing nose. It is a nose that complements the face without drastically changing the person's appearance. Apart from changing the overall shape or size, there are specific features that patients hope to change. They include:

• A crooked or uneven bridge
  
  

• A hump or bump on the bridge
  
  

• An asymmetric nose due to injury or trauma
  
  

• A wide bridge
  
  

• Large nostrils
  
  

• A hooked, bulbous, or upturned tip

The Surgical Procedure

There are different ways to perform rhinoplasty. The procedure can be done inside the nose, through a small incision between the nostrils, or at the base of the nose. The surgeon usually readjusts the bone and cartilage under the skin. Changing the shape of the nasal cartilage or bones will depend on the nasal structure.

The surgeon will also consider the goal of the treatment and how much addition or removal is needed. Everyone is unique, so the surgical procedure is customized to suit the patient's needs.

Functional rhinoplasty can make it easy for patients to breathe from both nostrils. Correcting a crooked or deviated septum will help improve breathing, improving the patient's quality of life.

​​​​​​​To see if you’re a candidate for rhinoplasty for correction of breathing issues, contact Aesthetic Surgical Associates at our Metairie, Louisiana office by calling 504-226-8200 to schedule an appointment today.