How is breathing and sleeping immediately after alarplasty?

Question

I had a consultation and the doctor recommended alarplasty. She said my tip is cute and that if I wanted rhinoplasty, she would recommend alarplasty alone because I have a history of health problems. Sounds like alarplasty would be safer and quicker with recovery? The only thing I was left wondering is how is breathing like after the surgery? Do I have to sleep elevated? I have UARS aka mild sleep apnea and very chronic insomnia which has left me with other problems like tachycardia.

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear anonymous girl89The short answer , alarplasty in general should not effect your breathing. It can leave noticeable scars that are difficult to conceal specially with asian rhinoplasty. It is more complicated though. for example if you have had injectables to change your tip and dorsum, and now getting an alarplasty, as your injectable gets metabolized and your nose returns to baseline, the alarplasty may not look as good.In general, if you are getting injectables for nasal shaping, you should wait till you reach a baseline and then have a formal rhinoplasty that will give long lasting and consistent results. Do it once, do it right!! you only get one nose !!I recommend you seek consultation with an experienced surgeon who is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Joseph Mele, MD · Answer

Alarplasty is used to narrow the width of the nose at the nostrils. While it does decrease to size of the nostrils, it does not usually interfere with breathing. Elevation of the head can help swelling, but as with any procedure, you need to ask the surgeon performing the procedure what the recommend after care includes. Good results require good communication, so be certain to ask your doctor. They know more about your unique needs.

Robert Kotler, MD, FACS · Answer

Dear
Anonymous Girl 89 in San Francisco:

Alarplasty
is narrowing of the nostrils. If that's
all you need, you probably will not have much trouble post-operatively regarding breathing.There will
be some swelling of the internal nostrils, but that will not be too bad. The recovery period is really one related only to
the stitching of the nose on the outside.Because no work on the septum or turbinates or any other part of
the nose is done, it's virtually a skin operation, so I think you should do well and
there should not be a problem. As far as
sleeping elevated and other issues, certainly raise those with the doctors with
whom you consult.

The
key question is whether alarplasty alone is enough to satisfy you. Your “tip is cute” is good, but remember that
once one part of the nose changes, if often makes the adjacent part look less
satisfactory. You want an overall
successful surgical outcome.Consultations are the path to that result. The more before surgery consultations you go to, the more you’ll
learn about your procedure. Prepare a list of questions beforehand and take
notes as the surgeon talks. In the best practices, no interruptions should take
place. And,
you should be spending more time with the surgeon than with the office
administrative staff. You should not feel rushed or that you are on a
consultation conveyer belt. Take a friend or relative along as two
brains are always better than one in gaining information and understanding. If
you hear a medical term you don’t understand, ask the surgeon to explain it in
plain English. Ask yourself two key questions: “Is this surgeon teaching or
selling?” And,
can I put my life and my face into this particular doctor’s hands? Can I
trust him?” Another super-important element of the best consultations:
Computer Imaging.Here’s how that works: photos are taken
of you as you are and uploaded onto a special computer system
that can change your present appearance into an anticipated
after picture (The technology is also known as Computer Morphing.)
Imaging is an incomparable learning tool because it provides a forum for doctor-patient
agreement on the after surgery result
that would satisfy you and is a result the doctor can deliver. After
all, cosmetic surgery is 100% visual. It is about appearance but without
visuals, everything is left to the imagination.
To anticipate a successful outcome, there must
be a meeting of the minds between surgeon and patient. Why waste your time on a
consultation in which the surgeon can’t demonstrate what he envisions as
the outcome? Would you buy a painting without seeing it? In my opinion, a consultation
without computer imaging is nearly worthless.

Best wishes,
Robert
Kotler, MD, FACS

Larry Fan, MD · Answer

Dear anonymousgirl89,Alarplasty is a minor procedure that is performed to narrow the width and/or size of the nostrils.It is occasionally performed as a stand alone procedure but is more commonly performed as a part of rhinoplasty.After alarplasty, breathing is usually minimally affected if you do not have any preexisting nasal abnormalities. Elevating the head is commonly recommended to minimize postoperative swelling.Please speak to your surgeon directly for all concerns, questions, and instructions, as he or she is in the best position to guide you.Warmest wishes,Larry Fan, MD

Fred Suess, MD (retired) · Answer

You should not have any change in breathing after alarplasty. If you are reducing the size of your nostrils this could affect your breathing.  Sincerely,

Fred Suess, M.D.

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How is breathing and sleeping immediately after alarplasty?

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