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I Cannot Breathe Still, 8 Mos After Surgery. Could It Be More Than Slight Deviated Septum?

asked 4 months ago by TRYING2BREATHE in san diego, ca
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 93 times
Tags: 8 months post-op, breathing problems, deviated septum, options

After rhinoplasty and not being able to breathe, surgeon said matter of factly, oh! You do not have enough room for the air now, you have a deviated septum and need a turbinectomy and septoplasty. Another doc said I only had slight deviation. Is this unusual for the surgeon NOT to check and compensate for any deviation and to make sure the patient will be able to breathe after surgery? I hated it when the nurse said, "but it looks cute." I am taking Flonase and still cannot breathe.

3 answers to I Cannot Breathe Still, 8 Mos After Surgery. Could It Be More Than Slight Deviated Septum?

+1

Rhinoplasty and airway issues

Airway issues may or may not be corrected after rhinoplasty and could get worse. Airway issues can be from a weak internal or external valve, a deviated septum,enlarged turbinates, sinuses, and allergies to name a few.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty and Nasal Airway Issues

An ideal rhinoplasty not only looks good but functions well. One of the concerns with making a nose smaller on the outside is that it tends to make the nose smaller on the inside as well. This can compromise your breathing ability. There is no way to tell without a physical examination, but there are surgical techniques that can improve breathing in patients like you. One of the big questions is did you breathe well before surgery and are there things you can do to make it better. See a... more
Vincent P. Marin, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Difficulty breathing after rhinoplasty

My personal approach to all rhinoplasty surgeries is to make sure they are both aesthetically pleasing and functional. When doing a rhinoplasty procedure you must take into consideration the thinning of the nose, septal deviations, turbinates and how this will affect the patients normal breathing routine post rhinoplasty. I routinely do septal work and turbincetomy work with almost all of my rhinoplasty procedures. More formally known as septorhinoplasty a combination procedure for both... more
Michael Elam, MD

Orange County Facial Plastic Surgeon

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