Breathing problems should be one of the main parts of a preoperative exam prior to rhinoplasty. If indicated, the breathing obstruction should be treated during the surgery. In the immediate postoperative period with rhinoplasty, there will be some swelling that may make breathing difficult with the dressings.... more













14 posts
20 May 2008
Hopefully, if you have problems breathing through your nose before rhinoplasty, the problem will be fixed after surgery. Problems with breathing through your nose can be from the inside anatomy being less than ideal. This can happen if you've had trauma to your nose in the past , from nasal medications, allergies, sinus problems, or just developmentally. When evaluated before surgery, these problems can many times be corrected during the rhinoplasty surgery. Often we may need to straighten the septum that leans too much to one side or reduce turbinates which take up too much space. If you don't have problems with breathing before surgery, sometimes problems can occur if your nose isn't supported correctly after the reshaping has been completed. Improper support is the most common cause and can result in your nose collapsing when you breathe in. This can certainly be a nuisance afterwards if it isn't recognized and corrected during the procedure. Most experienced rhinoplasty surgeons are aware of this and take the proper steps to prevent it. Otherwise, realize the swelling on the inside of your nose after surgery will limit airflow and create stuffiness for 2-3 weeks until it normalizes.