Will Nasal Allergies Affect Rhinoplasty Surgery or Outcome?

Other than reducing the size of the turbines to help with breathing, rhinoplasty surgery typically has no effect on allergies, and in fact can exacerbate them for 6 to 18 months post procedure. This is not always the case, but certainly a risk of the procedure.

In general, unless one has functional nasal airway problems, nasal allergies are not improved or worsened by any cosmetic rhinoplasty. If there is a functional component to your nasal allergies then that is corrected sometimes and allergies may diminish over time.

Depending on the extent of the allergic rhinitis, it could make your recovery more uncomfortable due to congestion as well an prolong the swelling. You should have this treated and management optimized prior to surgery to minimize the influence on surgery  

  While rhinoplasty, a cosmetic surgery, does not have an effect on your nasal allergies, it may have an affect on your breathing. Because patients who have allergies often have problems with nasal breathing it is imperative that you see a physician trained in ear nose and throat medicine in order to assure you the best functional component to your rhinoplasty surgery. Fixing the nasal septum is often an integral part of a nasal surgery. If you have problems with breathing and are contemplating having a rhinoplasty make sure you are evaluated by a nasal surgeon with experience in treating both problems. If you do not do this you may find that you have a good looking nose that does not function well.

Good Luck

Nasal allergies will not affect the surgery or outcome for the cosmetic portion of your rhinoplasty. In other words, changes to the size and shape of your nose will not be affected or limited.

However, functional changes to your nasal breathing may be impacted. If not done properly, rhinoplasty can have an adverse effect on nasal breathing, especially when coupled with preexisting allergy. It is important for your surgeon to address and nasal valve collapse, septal deflections, and turbinate enlargements. The turbinates are especially important because they often become swollen with chronic allergy.

After surgery, it may be more important for you to use decongestants and saline to keep the swelling inside the nose down and wash away crusts and allergens. Nasal allergies should not prevent you from getting the result you are seeking.