How Many People Have Long Term Difficulty Breathing After Rhinoplasty?

 It is extremely important for your surgeon to examine the internal portion of the nose and determine if there is any pre-existing nasal obstructive issues. These include a deviated septum, turbinate hypertrophy, and the function of the nasal valve. Any of these issues should be addressed surgically at time of the rhinoplasty to prevent postoperative nasal obstruction. Any breathing-related issue his typically billed to the patient's insurance for medical necessity. Rhinoplasty is  considered cosmetic and must be paid for by the patient  themselves.

It is certainly an important consideration.  Careful pre operative assessment should help avoid breathing problems.  I commonly perform inferior turbinate reduction to avoid airway problems after surgery and this has been quite successful.  Ask your surgeon about it.

    Hopefully, your rhinoplasty surgeon will give you an honest estimate of the percentage of his or her patients who have had breathing problems following rhinoplasty.  I do think that these problems are technique dependent, and certain surgeons have more postsurgical breathing problems than others.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA