Can a surgeon perform a rhinoplasty that allows you to breathe through your nostrils during recovery?

I am very aware of this and routinely use a u shape tube that I jockingly call Utube in both nostrils that allows the patient to breath after surgery until the swelling subsides. 

After a rhinoplasty, it is common to not be able to breathe well the first week. This is especially true if any internal septal work or turbinate work is required. An open Rhinoplasty will have less breathing issues than a closed, since there are less internal incisions to crust after surgery. There are stents that can be put into the nose to try and maintain breathing, but most patients find them even more uncomfortable. Even in the worst case scenarios, breathing is restored by 1 week after an in office cleaning.

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  There are soft silastic splints which can be placed internally to help with breathing in the immediate post-operative period.  This may be an option for you.   Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.   The most
important aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend
that you seek consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who
can evaluate you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D.  FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

 Normally  there is mild to moderate congestion inside the nose after rhinoplasty that can restrict airflow. It's important to make sure all the crusts are cleaned out during the healing phase of the first week or two which will impede airflow.  In our practice, we place cortisone shots in the inferior turbinates which will also decrease swelling  which helps with claustrophobic patient.. We do not place any painful packing or stents inside the nose

I do not usually pack the nose after surgery.  This will allow a person to breathe through their nose, however I do not usually allow patients to clean their nose for about a week and then only gently with a q-tip for the first few weeks.  The internal soft tissue can get very swollen and limit your ability to breathe through your nose.

Thanks for your question. This is an important thing to discuss with your surgeon. My patients can almost always breathe after their surgeries, but proper care for your nose is important. We always put dissolvable stitches up inside your nose. These can collect crusting which impedes your breathing. You can help prevent this by using plenty of saline spray in the days to weeks following your surgery. Good luck!

Typically, yes. Every surgeon is different so simply ask your surgeon and tell her/him this is a priority for you.

there are soft silastic splints surgeons can place after rhinoplasty that allow for airflow through the nostrils...they are generally removed when the splint comes off but certainly can be removed sooner if indicatedhowever, be careful if you are prone to panic attacks and have a documented anxiety disorder...rhinoplasty and its inherent swelling and nasal airway obstruction can be a bit claustrophobic and anxiety provoking even in patients who do not suffer from anxiety preoperatively...take your time deciding on the surgery and your surgeon...in my experience, making a well informed decision is the most disarming element to any operation...certainly check with your therapist/counselor and be sure that they believe that you are in good stead for rhinoplastygood luck

Doyle silicone splints inserted into the nose at the end of the rhinoplasty procedure have a breathing tube in them.  A Doyle splint is placed in each nasal cavity.  If one becomes clogged with mucus or crusting they can be cleaned/suctioned in the office during the healing period.  Ask you surgeon if she or he can use Doyle splints for your surgery.  Best wishes.