Should I be worried about mouth breathing after rhinoplasty?

Hello, and thank you for your question. Yes, depending on the surgeon, there could be some nasal packing placed inside the nose after surgery, which can make it more difficult to breathe. In many cases, splints or nasal tubes may be used in place of nasal packing which may allow for better airflow and breathing. I recommend scheduling an in-person consultation with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon, particularly one with a strong rhinoplasty portfolio. You should discuss all your concerns with your surgeon ahead of surgery so you can have a smoother recovery process and achieve the best possible outcome.

Since we do not pack the nose, there is usually a little air that gets through. But even though you're quite congested, it does not affect your health at all. Some patients just feel bad if they can't breathe through the nose, but it will definitely start getting better after a week.

Most surgeons which perform significant number of rhinoplasties, will place minimal packing into the nose after rhinoplasty. In case that septum was operated on due to deviation or for harvest of cartilage grafts, special nasal tubes (Doyle splint) are placed to provide air passage after surgery. You should discuss these issues with your surgeon ahead of surgery. Good luck.