Can too much cartilage removal from a nose during rhinoplasty cause the patient to have difficulty breathing? (Photos)

Yes, having had too much cartilage removed during your primary rhinoplasty can absolutely cause breathing problems down the road, for a number of different reasons.    When someone performs what we call "reductive rhinoplasty," and they are removing cartilage, they are essentially making the structure of the nose weaker.  So over time, the nose will start to collapse and have structural and functional issues, including but not limited too difficulty breathing.  Be sure to consult a board certified plastic surgeon who has immense experience in revision rhinoplasty.  

Hi Pegah,Unfortunately, over aggressive resection of the nasal cartilages can disrupt the structural support and function of the nasal valves and result in post-surgical nasal obstruction. Additional causes can be a residual septal deviation and sometimes big turbinates (unrelated to surgery). The best way to figure out what is going on is for you to visit with a rhinoplasty expert for a full exam.Best,

Yes. Too much cartilage removal will, sooner or later, cause breathing problems and and deformed appearance.