Why does my nose whistle when I breathe?

Question

I'm so unhappy with my primary rhinoplasty, and I am constantly reminded of it because when I breathe in deeply through my nose it makes a whistling sound. Why is this?

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and I am sorry you did not see a satisfactory result from your rhinoplasty. As other surgeons have mentioned, the most common causes of whistling after surgery are perforation of the septum and an obstruction or other narrowing of the nasal passage. You should contact your surgeon for a follow-up to determine the cause of the whistling and discuss a plan to correct it. Make sure you are working with a very experienced, board-certified facial plastic surgeon who has the expertise to produce the best possible result for you.

Andrew Miller, MD · Answer

A whistling sound when breathing may indicate a septal perforation or some type of blockage in the nose. You should bring this up with your surgeon and if the answer is not satisfying, then it is perfectly fine to see another rhinoplasty specialist for a second opinion. When it comes to the nose, there can be many opinions on how to manage a particular problem.

Rady Rahban, MD, FACS · Answer

I am sorry to hear about you being dissatisfied after your surgery.  It is very disappointing to undergo surgery and not be happy.  While no one can be sure until they examine you whistling after surgery is almost always caused by a septal perforation.  That is when a whole is made in your septum likely during your septoplasty and now the air is moving through it when you breath hence creating the whistling noise.  Depending on the size and its location is can sometimes be fixed but it is a tricky surgery.  Good Luck Dr Rahban

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

If you had septal cartilage harvested, or if you had a septoplasty with your rhinoplasty surgery, you may have a small hole in your septum. Septal perforations may sound like a high pitched whistle with breathing. Consider visiting a rhinoplasty specialist so you could see how best to proceed.Wishing you well.Dr. Joseph

A. Joshua Zimm, MD · Answer

Hi there, If the sound is in fact a high pitched sound when you inhale deeply, the most likely cause is a perforation of your nasal septum.  You should follow up with your rhinoplasty surgeon or another rhinoplasty specialist if you aren't comfortable with the original surgeon so that a treatment plan can be devised if this is in fact the case.  Best of luck.

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello ssbuddy,I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.Whistling through the nose after rhinoplasty is really due to 2 major possible causes.Firstly, most patients receive reduction rhinoplasty to make smaller, more aesthetically pleasing noses.  Some patients are high risk for post-operative nasal airway narrowing.  As air has to move through these more narrowed spaces it speeds up flow.  As airspeed increases, the pitch of the flow increases, causing a whistling sound.  Have your surgeon evaluate you for post-operative nasal obstruction and define it's root cause so that a reasonable solution can be found.The other cause of post-operative whistling is a septal perforation.  A septal perforation results from a hole in the septal cartilage after harvesting of the cartilage, typically in the treatment of septal deviation.  The mucosal lining of the nose is injured too much and heals poorly resulting in the hole.  As air passes, it whistles from the turbulence caused by the hole.  Have your surgeon evaluate you for this.Depending on what is found, work on a plan with your surgeon, but if you don't feel comfortable, I recommend a consult with a specialist in revision rhinoplasty to come up with a plan that does make you feel comfortable.Good luck,Dr. Shah

Brian M. Harmych, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for the interesting question. I'm sure that many other people have had this same question- even those that have not had rhinoplasty surgery. For patients who have had rhinoplasty, the two most common causes are narrowing of the breathing passages secondary to scarring and septal perforation. When air moves through any space a sound is created. The more narrow the space, the higher pitch the noise. If there is an obstruction a noise may be created, regardless of the cause of the blockage. A perforation or hole in the nasal septum may also cause a noise for a different reason- turbulence. A physical exam performed by your rhinoplasty surgeon would help to determine the cause. The noise could be coming from something as simple to fix as removing some crusting within the nose. I hope this answer helps!Good luck,Dr. Harmych

Julian De Silva, MD · Answer

Whistling in your nose after rhinoplasty, can be caused by turbulence of the air flow in your nose after surgery. If sson afer surgyer it can be a normal part of healing, however if present after recovery, there may be other causes. One cause may be a sign of a septal perforation (a hole in the bone and cartilage partition that divides your nasal passages). Often the hole is relativley small (1-2mm) and could have developed as a complication of your previous rhinoplasty. It is best to consult with a qualified facial plastic surgeon, to assess your nose further and discuss corrective measures. Genderally speaking small holes soon after surgery may self correct with the use of lubricants and decongestants. Holes that persist for longer often can be treated conservatively as they may cause minimal symptoms, however large holes may require additioanl surgery.

Kailash Narasimhan, MD · Answer

This could be due to a variety of reasons, most commonly when there is some whistling there is some nasal obstruction.  This could be intermittent or constant.  When air can only passed through a narrow passage then the whistling occurs.  Alternatively, if you have a septal perforation or some anatomic issue with the nose it could whistle.  The only way to diagnosis correctly is to see a rhinoplasty specialist to perform an internal exam.  There could be an issue with your nasal valves she needs corrective surgery.  Good lock

William Portuese, MD · Answer

Was leaving in the nose can be caused by a perforation of the nasal septum which can be the result of previous surgery, cocaine abuse, or trauma to the nose. A thorough internal examination of the nose is required to make a determination about what is causing the issue.