Trouble Breathing After Second Nasal Surgery?

I had rhinoplasty for a tip refinement 3 years ago. Ever since, I've had difficulty breathing from my right nostril and my breathing is greatly improved with the use of Breathe Right Strips. A month ago, I had revision septoplasty with spreader grafts and batten grafts. I STILL have problems with my right side and Breathe Right Strips still work. Did this second surgery fail? My surgeon was voted one of the top plastic surgeons in NYC. I am devasted that this will be a lifelong issue.

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by ctcollegecoach

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (1)

Persistent breathing problems after revision rhinoplasty

I agree with the other surgeons here who suggest that it may be too early to say if your latest surgery has failed. It doesn't take much internal nasal swelling to cause persistent congestion. It sounds like your revision rhinoplasty was done by an experienced surgeon, which is favorable. I would continuing following up with your surgeon to see how everything heals.

Breathing issue after rhinoplasty

Spreader grafts are often the solution, but not always. There are many factors that contribute to breathing difficulties. But, I will say that at one month, the nose may still be swollen inside contributing to your problem. Give it more time.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Trouble breathing after second Rhinoplasty

Hi, It sounds like you still have nasal valve collapse. You may need a butterfly spreader graft to further open the nasal valve. Fixing nasal valves can be tricky and even the best surgeons may encounter problems. It may also have something to do with your healing. There are many factor that can effect outcome. See link below for treatment options. Best, Dr.S. see video

Trouble Breathing After Second Nasal Surgery

Your description of your surgeons suggests that they are highly experienced. However, It is unfortunate that you're still having breathing issues after surgery. It is quite possible that you still have some swelling inside your nasal passage that is causing some obstruction in the "nasal valve" area. If after a few months you're still experiencing the same issues, I would recommend you revisit the issue with your surgeon. There are other options for treatment of nasal obstruction that... more

Swelling and difficulty breathing after revision rhinoplasty

Revision rhinoplasty patients often ask for improvement in nasal airway breathing. In my Santa Monica and Beverly Hills practice, it is important to preoperatively determine whether breathing problems are a medical and allergic concern, or a mechanical obstruction. In the early phase after surgery, swelling is the most likely culprit for breathing difficulties. Speak to your plastic surgeon. Raffy Karamanoukian Surgery90210

Nasal breathing problems

If your problem was due to internal nasal valve collapse the spreader grafts should help you. One month is early and your may have some internal nasal edema. Donald R. Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

3 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Nasal valve obstruction

I agree that the nasal valve is a tricky area to fix, and spreaders are not always the best thing to use. However, I would also point out that if it has only been 1 month since your revision, it may be too early to call the surgery unsuccessful. The nasal valve is a narrow area anatomically no matter what graft is used to open it. Therefore, it doesn't take much swelling to affect the valve area. You might give it a few months to settle down before you get completely... more

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Comments (1)

ctcollegecoach 20 Jul 2012

Thank you for the responses. The breathing problem was a result of the first rhinoplasty. I always breathed very well prior. The second surgery was an attempt to fix the problem caused by the first. (I also have permanent numbness on the afflicted side.) I am very aware of swelling as I have now been through two surgeries---both open nasal surgeries, yet there has been no mild, gruadual improvement! I've had 3 ENT/plastic surgeon consultations, my setum is straight, my turbinates have been trimmed, and I have no allergies/infections. While its' only been a month following the second surgery, the Cottle manuever and Breathe Rite strips alleviate the difficulty. Should I get an MRI/CT scan of nose? What could be going wrong? Is there something that could have been missed here? My surgeon teaches at Mt. Sinai and had the head of surgery look in at the end of my second procedure. BTW, the aesthetics are lovely. No problems there.

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