While rhinoplasties, also known as nose jobs, are commonly thought of as cosmetic procedures, they can have benefits that go beyond how they make you look.
A non-surgical nose job can temporarily help you with minor appearance issues, but will not have the same benefits that you will be able to get from traditional rhinoplasty.
You might have noticed you have difficulty breathing while exercising or breathing at night. Disrupted sleep can lead to a myriad of health problems and needs to be corrected when possible.
If you have been suffering from breathing issues, you may consider a rhinoplasty as a solution for you.
What Problems Can it Fix?
There are three common breathing problems that rhinoplasty can help with: a deviated septum, narrowing in the middle vault, and enlarged turbinates.
- Deviated Septum: A deviated septum can occur naturally or can be caused by injury. What it means is that there is a bend within the septum, which is the piece of cartilage that is between the sides of your nose.
While most people have some curve in their septum, some bend more significantly than others. This can lead to obstructed breathing.
Rhinoplasty can straighten the septum, allowing air to pass through your nose freely. - Narrowing of the Middle Vault: The middle vault is the sides of your nose.
When they narrow or collapse, that means that the sides of the nose are falling inward, making it impossible for air to pass through.
While there are devices that are intended to hold the sides open for optimal breathing, rhinoplasty can correct the middle vault, increasing the amount of air that can get through when you inhale. - Enlarged Turbinates: Turbinates are mucous structures that are on the sides of the inside of your nose. Their purpose is to keep your nose hydrated as air goes in and out, ensuring that you do not get dried out.
Sometimes these turbinates can become enlarged. When that happens, the turbinates can block off the airflow in your nose, making it difficult to breathe. While this is common when you are sick, such as having a cold, they can become chronically enlarged and might require rhinoplasty to get the relief that you need. - Nasal Polyps: Another obstruction that can make it difficult to breathe is nasal polyps. Polyps are small growths that occur within the nasal passage, restricting the amount of air that can get through. Chronic allergy symptoms can often cause them. Rhinoplasty can be used to remove these polyps. There is a risk of recurrence, but with proper management of allergy symptoms, the risk of recurrence will decrease.
How Do You Breathe During Rhinoplasty Surgery?
The first thing you might be asked before any procedure, be it surgery for a woman or a man, is whether or not you've had prior surgical procedures. The same is probably the case with surgical and non-surgical nose jobs. That's because when it comes to a major operation like rhinoplasty, you want to make sure you get it right and do so only with a surgeon you feel will do so.
You'll find that in addition to the medical doctor who performs the surgery, you'll also have the name and credentials of an anesthesiologist, a registered nurse, and a PA at the table with you. The physician may be under the scope of the anesthesiologist, who will be the person who administers anesthesia.
Functional vs Cosmetic
While the reason behind getting rhinoplasty differs from person to person, the surgeries are very similar.
Many patients who have functional rhinoplasties performed to correct a breathing concern will also have cosmetic concerns adjusted at the same time.
There are also instances with patients with imperfect noses that are the cause of breathing problems.
In this case, the patients would receive rhinoplasty that is considered both functional and cosmetic.
And don't forget that good breathing means less stress and anxiety. This might just be on of the good side-effects.
