Will getting a rhinoplasty have any effect on my Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and ear popping?

The simple answer is if the rhinoplasty is performed by a rhinoplasty expert, then ETD is usually not a problem. Expert rhinoplasty surgeons usually perform a septoplasty at the same time as the rhinoplasty so the breathing improves. If the breathing passage improves, then ETD should not occur.

Has your diagnosis of ETD be confirmed? if not, I would suggest you undergo ear examination, an nasal endoscopy to look at the ET orifices and a tympanometry (middle ear pressure test) to confirm you have ETD. Septorhinoplasty may potentially help if you have underlying septal deviation and rhinits (nasal inflammation causing symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and blockage) and your surgeon addresses your nasal septum and reduces your inferior turbinates.  Having said that the ETD may not necessarily improve and other treatment may be required to help this e.g. nasal steroids or even ballon eustachian tuboplasty.

I would not expect that rhinoplasty would affect your ETD in negative way. If anything, it may eventually improve your condition if you have an underlying airway obstruction (severely deviated septum, large turbinates). In person consultation with a board certified plastic or ENT surgeon with good reputation in nose surgery is recommended. Good luck.

Great question. I'll echo what the other surgeons have answered in saying that a rhinoplasty would not be expected to have much of an effect on ETD negative or positive. However, a caveat I would add as an ENT-trained facial plastic surgeon is that if the rhinoplasty improves your nasal breathing it could theoretically have a beneficial effect on your ETD. Having better airflow dynamics through your nose has beneficial effects on the mucosal lining of the nose, sinuses, and included in that would be the opening of your Eustachian tube in the back of your nose. That being said, it would be unwise to proceed with rhinoplasty surgery in the hopes that it would have a noticeable impact on your ETD. Best of luck!! 

Hello and thank you for your question. Rhinoplasty should not affect Eustachian tube function. My best advice is that you discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing rhinoplasty. I would ask to see before and after pictures of their real patients. It's important that you trust your surgeon's skills and ability to achieve the results you are looking for. In particular, pay attention to your surgeon's experience with rhinoplasty. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

Hello and thank you for your question. It would be very unlikely that rhinoplasty would negatively affect this.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon. Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon
 

No, performing a rhinoplasty will have no effect on eustachian tube dysfunction. Rhinoplasty is performed on the front part of the nose, and eustachian tube dysfunction is located completely in the back of the nose

Hi and welcome to our forum!Eustachian tube dysfunction by itself is usually a self limited illness. However, if secondary to infection or obstruction, the underlying cause must be determined and treated. Nasal sprays or nasal irrigation may alleviate symptoms. In severe cases, pressure equilibration tubes may be required.Rhinoplasty involves modification of bone / cartilage to reshape the external nose. In addition, if symptoms of ETD are caused by a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates (structures inside the lateral wall of the internal nose that regulate temperature and humidity of inspired air), correction can be achieved. Visit a board certified plastic surgeon for in-person evaluation and discussion.Best wishes...