In rhinoplasty, do osteotomies or hump removal endanger my breathing?

Dear Sukie123In general, in basic terms, changes to the lower half of your external nose can impact your breathing. This area includes the internal and external nasal valve. The rest of your nasal airway primarily is impacted by your nasal septum and nasal turbinates. It is changes in these areas that can improve or worsen your breathing through the nose.Breathing is preserved by maintaining the structural integrity of these areas.

To answer your question simply, yes rhinoplasty can do this. This is especially true during reductive rhinoplasty with a large hump takedown. Improper technique during osteotomies can also impinge on the nasal airway. There are techniques to help prevent this and a surgeon well versed in both cosmetic and functional airway surgery would help you in this process. Good luck to you!!

Wow! You're going about this all wrong. Choose a very competent surgeon's noses you like and do not worry about such things.in 35 years I've had no problem with any of the issues you're describing.  

Theoretically anytime you undergo rhinoplasty surgery there could be a risk to nasal breathing if the surgery is not done correctly.  While that risk is limited in hump removal, osteotomies can cause breathing problems if the bone is not set correctly during your surgery.  The best recommendation is to consult with a board certified specialist in rhinoplasty who can assist you with achieving the results you seek. 3-dimensional computer imaging can also help you visualize what you may look like afterwards and serve as an important communication tool with your surgeon.

Osteotomies and comparable are not performed in the area of the bridge where the airflow is maximized. Performing osteotomies hump removal should not have any bearing on breathing through the nose.

in general, breathing problems are caused by an internal or extrenal valve collapse. neither are related to the nasal bones or osteotomies. Rasping of the hump hould not be of a concern either.

Thank you for your question. Anytime you undergo rhinoplasty there is a potential risk of affecting your breathing. Osteotomies, dorsal hump reduction and nasal tip work can all affect how air moves through the nose. Your plastic surgeon will have to account how all of these maneuvers will affect your breathing. Good luck.

This is a complicated question and one to bring up with your rhinoplasty surgeon during an in person consultation. In general, the narrowing of the nasal bones or rasping do not directly effect the airway. These maneuvers can indirectly lead to narrowing of what is called the middle vault or internal nasal valve, and this can effect the breathing. Most well trained and experienced rhinoplasty surgeons will address this in a preventative manner during surgery. Speak with your surgeon about how they will manage this issue with respect to the specific areas of your nose to be addressed. Best of luck

The simple answer is YES breathing problems can occur after a hump removal but should not if the procedure is done properly to protect the airway.Dr Corbin

  This is a great question.  The airway is protected during a Rhinoplasty as part of the general anesthesia process.  What you can "read" about is a relative limitation (decrease) in nasal breathing if the internal nasal valve is collapsed as a result of Rhinoplasty techniques.  I have performed Rhinoplasty for over 25 years and taught Rhinoplasty techniques to surgeons in training during that period and I personally believe that the issues is way overblown.  Meticulous surgical techniques and closure of the nasal mucosa during Rhinoplasty should avoid that as an issue.  Internal nasal valve issues are not related to osteotomies = procedures to break the nasal bones.  Hope this helps.