Will Improving My Nose Hinder My Breathing?

The desire for a more attractive nose through rhinoplasty is something many people share. Unfortunately, they also often share a fear of the procedure. “I’m concerned that a nose job could make my breathing worse,” one patient told us. “My friend had surgery, and now she has much more trouble breathing. What happened?”

In this article, we’ll try to answer that question.

The #1 Way to Avoid Post-Rhinoplasty Breathing Problems

There are two types of rhinoplasty:

• Cosmetic Rhinoplasty – surgical refinements to correct bumps, a broad nose, flaring nostrils, a droopy nose tip, and other aesthetic concerns.

• Functional Rhinoplasty – surgery to improve diminished breathing capacity.

As with any surgical procedure, the training, skill, and experience of your surgeon are key factors. For cosmetic rhinoplasty it is wise to seek out a surgeon who understands both the aesthetic and the functional aspects of the procedure. A specialty plastic surgeon, specifically a facial plastic surgeon (like Dr Marcells), has both the aesthetic expertise to reshape a nose and the surgical training to ensure surgery has no impact on breathing function.

Revision Rhinoplasty to Correct Breathing Problems

In a perfect world, the results of rhinoplasty would always be ideal. In the real world, however, that isn’t always the case. That’s because rhinoplasty is considered to be one of the most difficult cosmetic surgical procedures to master. Happily, patients who are dissatisfied with the results of their initial procedure can opt for revision rhinoplasty. It’s a follow-up surgery to make or correct aesthetic and functional issues that have developed since the primary (initial) rhinoplasty.

The most common reasons for functional problems that require revision rhinoplasty are:

• Nasal obstruction
• Restricted airways (due to narrowed passages to sculpt a smaller nose)
• Excessive internal scarring
• Nasal valve collapse (if too much cartilage is removed)
• Deviated septum that was missed during the initial surgery

“If you require revision rhinoplasty due to functional problems or breathing problems, there will likely be Medicare reimbursements to cover some of the costs,” reports Costhetics, the leading resource for cosmetic and plastic surgery news and information. “If it is done for purely aesthetic reasons, it is not covered by Medicare, but may be covered by private insurance.” No one likes billing surprises, so be sure to check your policy before scheduling your surgery.

Put Your Nose in Dr Marcells Hands

If you’re dissatisfied with the look or function of your nose, don’t let fear stand in the way of getting more information. We invite you to contact our practice to schedule a consultation with Dr Marcells and browse through our “scrapbook” of patient success photos.