Can I get a rhinoplasty to improve the hump on my nose and my airflow?

It's always best to fix outside and inside problems at the same time with the nose. We take insurance for the inside, but the rhinoplasty for the outside is considered cosmetic. Be sure to see a rhinoplasty specialist for consultation.

Hello! Thank you for your question. As far as I can understand from your question you need surgeon who both ENT and facial plastic surgeon. This way you can achieve your goals only one nose surgery. However, without the photos it is hard to make a proper evaluation. If you can provide photos from front of your face, from the side of your face and 1 meter away I would be able to make a proper evaluation. It would be more convenient to decide with face-to-face consultation. Best Regards!

It's usually a problem with the septum, and it's routine to correct septal problems during the same operation. No reason someone should need two trips to the operating room for that.
As far as figuring out what to do with the appearance of the nose, how *much* to lower a bump, or make other changes? We figure that out with morphs, well before surgery. I'd love for you to see some excellent professionally-designed morphs of what could possibly be done with your nose. Morphs could also help you identify better just what's bothering you, and help you set a goal for the rhinoplasty that's accurate for your tastes. Profile and three-quarter views would be particularly important in morphing your nose. (Side note: in my opinion, morphs should really be done by the surgeon, or he should direct an assistant as she makes the morphs. Morphs should be made with a constant eye to what actually *can* be done in surgery, for that particular nose, and the surgeon has that information and judgment best.)

Finally, remember that rhinoplasty is an exquisitely difficult operation to get right, and you should only have surgery if you are able to make yourself very confident in your surgeon's skills. Any rhinoplasty requires skill that most plastic surgeons don't possess with expertise. For most noses, it's much better to not have surgery than to have inexpertly-performed surgery. Read my essay on how to stay out of trouble while selecting a rhinoplasty surgeon. And it also discusses how to take photos that are best for online evaluations.

Thank you for your question! A septorhinoplasty can be covered through insurance, and in this operation an approach is taken to alter the cartilage/bone of the nose along with the septum to improve the functionality (i.e., breathing ability) of the nose. At the same time a cosmetic alteration to address the nasal hump can be performed, but this part is not covered by insurance. Your surgeon should be able to separate these for billing while performing both in the same operation. Hope that helps!

You seemed to be well versed in the medical criteria needed to get your insurance to cover the procedure - at least part of it. It’s helpful to think of a septorhinoplasty as being 2 surgeries - a functional one to correct your breathing which may include a septoplasty (“straightening the septum”), turbinectomies and strengthening weak airways with cartilage (such as with spreader grafts) and a cosmetic one.
Whether or not your insurance will cover the functional component of your procedure, surgery to address your aesthetic goals and correcting your breathing problem is certainly a possibility. it seems you have already seen a specialist who is able to determine you have only 11% airflow, but if you for some reason you are unable to have them perform your surgery, make sure you see a board-certified plastic surgeon for further information to best weigh your options on how to proceed.

A closed rhinoplasty approach can accomplish shaving down the dorsal hump to give you a nice cosmetic improvement. All the incisions are placed on the inside of the nose. Functional nasal surgery such as a septoplasty or turbinate surgery may be required to improve air flow dynamics, and is usually billed to patients medical insurance. If you're having headaches behind your nose, a CAT scan of your sinuses maybe necessary. Look for a double board-certified ENT/ facial plastic surgeon who can accomplish both functional and cosmetic nasal surgery under one anesthesia with one recovery.

Combined rhinoplasty and septoplasty: A rhinoplasty, to improve the appearance is often performed in conjunction with a septoplasty, to improve the airway. The combined procedure is referred to as a septoRhinoplasty. As to whether you would get coverage for the functional portion of the surgery, depends on your insurance. In my experience most companies will cover the functional portion of the procedure, but that would be subject to any deductibles you might have. Some companies require a pre-authorization to determine any available benefits. I have run across some insurance companies which do not cover the functional portion of the surgery if any cosmetic work is also being done. The answers to those questions can usually be obtained prior to having surgery so you know where you stand.