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2.5 years post primary cosmetic rhinoplasty - Breathing is very difficult. What can I do to fix this? (Photos)

ywave122
I had a cosmetic rhinoplasty in January 2023 to reduce the size of my nose. I was happy with the results aesthetically but not functionally. For the first 2 years I found that my breathing wasn't as great and I would need to blow my nose several times a day which I never used to do. Over the past 6 months I started feeling like I was breathing using my throat muscle and the air was hitting the back of my throat instead of traveling smoothly along my sinuses. I spent a few weeks in Palm Springs in August and that's when my nasal valves completely collapsed. Now- I can't breathe at all even if I wear breathe strips, or if I do the cottle maneuver. All it does is open my valves -I'm still unable to breathe. I've seen ENTs and surgeons who don't understand what is going on and say that my sinuses are open and there's no issue. I feel like my airways are teeny tiny and I need to use all my neck and throat muscles to take a breath of air and that is what cause my nasal valves to weaken and collapse. My chest and lungs hurt from trying to breathe, my mouth is dry from alternating to mouth breathing throughout the day and my sinuses are completely dry. I have no sign of infection, I even did a nasal culture swab. The surgeon who operated my nose says that it's from scar contracture but I went to see an ENT/Rhinoplasty surgeon in NYC and he said that he couldn't see any. I don't go out anymore, I've ghosted everyone. I feel so depressed. I just want to be able to breathe again...

Answers (1)

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Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS profile photo
Dr. Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS
Answered on Sep 27, 2025
Answer
Dr. Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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