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Nose Surgery for Breathing Problems

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Carlos Wolf, MD
Question viewed 8,303 times
Tags: nose, breathing, flat, snoring

I have breathing problems and snoring because I have kind of a flat nose and was told that rhinoplasty surgery can correct this.  But I am afraid that if I have surgery it is going to make me look a lot different.

24 answers to Nose Surgery for Breathing Problems

+3

Functional Rhinoplasty

Functional rhinoplasty is a term that I use to describe a rhinoplasty performed specifically to improve nasal breathing. In many cases, this can be combined with an aesthetic rhinoplasty. In fact, every aesthetic rhinoplasty should be approached with function in mind, and every functional rhinoplasty should be approached with aesthetics in mind. The short answer to your question is yes, we can improve the nasal airway while maintaining nasal aesthetics. However, much of this will depend... more
Sam Most, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

Airway surgery

Your surgery can most certainly be done without changing your look. In fact, the airway structures are often removed or repaired without changing the patient's appearance. This is mostly because those structures are deeper or require significant manipulation to chagne the look of the nose. This of course is assuming a properly done surgery. Be sure your plastic surgeon does plenty of these surgeries before signing up. Best Wishes.
Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nose surgery without changing your loooks

Nose surgery can be done to improve your breathing without changing your looks. This type of surgery is primarily done by either ENT(ear nose and throat) surgeons or Facial Plastic surgeons trained in ENT as well. The myth that if you do a Septoplasty( fixing the septum) may change the outside of your nose is false. Good Luck
Carlos Wolf, MD

Miami Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Airway surgery without changing the shape of the nose

In most instances of nasal obstruction, the problem is due to a deviated septum and turbinate enlargement. Rarely, the location of septum deviation is very high or very far in front of the nose. In these situation, extra steps must be taken during the surgery to ensure the nasal shape is not altered.
Maurice M. Khosh, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Correcting nasal breathing problems without altering the external appearance

Surgery can be done to improve your breathing without altering the shape of your nose if that is your desire. Most breathing problems are the result of septal deviations or enlarged turbinates or some combination thereof. Altering the outside of your nose generally will not improve nasal airway function unless the tip is hanging over the nostrils, there is pinching along the sides of your nose or collapse of your nasal valve. If those issues are not present, you should not need to have the... more
Scott Trimas, MD

Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Most breathing problems can be fixed without changing look

In most cases, correction of the septum and turbinates inside the nose will be enough to fix nasal breathing problems. These treatments do not change the external shape of the nose. In some cases, the outer shape of the nose must be altered in order to fully correct the nasal obstruction (crooked nose, broken nose, or pinched nose). All depends on your anatomy!
David W. Kim, MD

Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nasal breathing and Functional Rhinoplasty

You can absolutely improve your nasal breathing without changing the outside appearance of your nose. In most cases, you can straighten your septum if crooked and reduce the size of your turbinates (the tissues in your nose that make you feel congested) without any external changes. Also, if you have a narrowing of your nasal valve (the narrowest point of your entire airway) then a nasal valve repair can also be performed at the same time to maximize your nasal airway... more
Mike Majmundar, MD

Atlanta Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Functional nose surgery

Improvement in the ability of the nose to breathe can absolutely be performed without changing the appearance. However, in some instances, raising the tip of the nose or widening the nose may help improve your breathing. Consulting with a facial plastic surgeon / ENT doctor experienced in functional nasal surgery will allow them to examine your nose, inside and out. They will then be able to tell you what will be necessary to improve your ability to breathe through your nose.... more
Jacob D. Steiger, MD

Boca Raton Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nose surgery can improve breathing without cosmetic changes

There is rarely any need to make cosmetic changes if a patient has only a breathing obstruction. Such a problem is usually caused by a deviated nasal septum or enlarged structures called turbinates. It is entirely possible to do surgery on these structures without changing the external appearance of the nose.
Howard T. Bellin, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nose surgery to improve breathing

A septoplasty and turbinate reduction are procedures that are designed to open up the nasal airway to maximize breathing. These procedures will have no cosmetic change on the nose at all.
Jason B. Diamond, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty to improve breathing is not needed

If your problem is breathing related and you do not want to change youe nose looks. Then you do not need a rhinoplasty, you need an Ear Nose an Throat doctor to correct your breathing problems ONLY.  
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Airway problems can be corrected without changing the nasal cosmetics

The anatomical problems that are responsible for breathing problems may or may not be visible on the outside of the nose. Breathing difficulties may result from excessive development of bony structures within the nasal passages called turbinates. These do not contribute to the external appearance of the nose. Therefore, they can be reduced and there will be no change to your nose cosmetically. This is referred to as Turbinectomy. The most common cause of breathing difficulty results from a... more
David A. Ross, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deviated septum can be corrected without changing nose appearance

Unfortunately everyone fears looking unnatural. This is up to your surgeon's aesthetic understanding, ethics, and experience in rhinoplasty. As you may already know, rhinoplasty is the most challenging and meticulous procedure performed by Plastic Surgeons. This is why you see so many "bad noses" out in public. You cannot hide or camouflage a bad nose job. Also, it is much harder to correct a nose after a rhinoplasty to improve breathing. The best shot at it is the first time. It... more
Ashkan Ghavami, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Functional Rhinoplasty can improve breathing with minimal change to appearance

It is a misconception to think that nasal surgery automatically changes the shape of your nose. The nose is extremely complex in both form and function and rhinoplasty can address shape and/or breathing. Most often, breathing problems arise from the septum (midline cartilage of the nose) and the turbinates. Their interactions with each other can narrow the internal passageway and can restrict airflow. A functional rhinoplasty would involve addressing the septum and the turbinates and any... more
Charles K. Lee, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

A Nose Job CAN improve breathing without Changing Appearance

"Breathing problems" can be related to various inside nose blockages (deviated septum, enlarged inferior turbinates etc). Correction of the obstruction by several techniques CAN be done without changing the outside appearance of the nose. Dr. P. Aldea
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breathe better without external change to the nose

Correction of a purely functional nasal airway obstruction can be corrected without any alteration in the shape of the nose. Two procedures usually need to be performed, a septoplasty and a turbinectomy. If your septum is highly rotated and you have a crooked nose this may be improved with the septoplasty. Otherwise there will be no visible external change.
Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, you can improve breathing without changing the appearance of the nose.

Septoplasty and partial turbinectomy are two small procedures that open the airway.  They have no effect on the appearance of the nose. These operations are performed on an outpatient basis and are highly effective in the properly selected patient.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Improve breathing without change to appearance

If your obstruction is due to a septal deviation or enlarged turbinates, nasal surgery (septoturbinoplasty) can certainly improve your breathing without changing your external appearance. If weakness of your internal and/or external nasal valves exist then functional rhinoplasty can corrrect these with grafts. Since grafts are used to strengthen the valves, there is a potential for subtle change to your appearance, but if done correctly the change is minimal.
Corey S. Maas, MD

San Francisco Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty to correct a medical problem associated with breathing is usually called a medically necessary rhinoplasty or a functional rhinoplasty. Typically if a rhinoplasty is done to correct breathing or snoring problems, the nose is visibly crooked from shifted nasal bones. So a functional rhinoplasty may need to change the shape of the nose in order to correct a medical problem. However, most functional rhinoplasty do not change the shape to the nose. Beware that your snoring may come... more
Oleh Slupchynskyj, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can rhinoplasty improve breathing without changing looks?

If you have had no traumatic injuries which have changed the shape of your nose and your external nose is not deviated to one side, the answer is yes.  This means that the breathing problems are coming from deformities of structures inside your nose and these can be fixed without changing the external shape.
Jack P. Gunter, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Septorhinoplasty / Functional Rhinoplasty Can Improve Breathing

Functional nasal surgery -- such as a septorhinoplasty, septoplasty, spreader grafts, and turbinate reduction -- can improve breathing problems. When performed correctly, these procedures do not cause an appreciable change in the shape of the nose. Sometimes, the changes are minor. For instance, when spreader grafts are used to open the nasal passages, the lower 2/3 of the bridge may appear slightly little wider after surgery. There are some nose types that do require more extensive... more
C. Spencer Cochran, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

It is Possible To Correct Breathing without Changing Shape

Depending on the reason for your nasal airway obstruction, it is possible to improve breathing through the nose without changing the shape. Talking with your surgeon about your concerns before surgery is of paramount importance to ensure that your goals are met. In this case your goal is improving your nasal breathing without changing the shape of your nose. Unfortunately, in some cases, you have to change the shape of the nose to improve the ability to breathe through it.
D.J. Verret, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Improved Breathing without Rhinoplasty

You and your surgeon can decide pre-operatively exactly what will and will not be done during your procedure. Sometimes it is possible to improve your breathing by straightening your septum and reducing your turbinates without making you look different. However, in a severely deviated nose it may be necessary to straighten the entire nose, .which will alter your appearance. Don't be concerned; all this will be determined before the operation.
Richard W. Fleming, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes. A septoplasty and turbinate surgery can improve...

Yes. A septoplasty and turbinate surgery can improve breathing out of the nose without altering its appearance. Changing the look of the nose is cosmetic in nature, and is defined as a rhinoplasty. A septoplasty and turbinate surgery is of medical necessity and is generally covered through a patient’s medical insurance.
William Portuese, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

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