Noncosmetic Reasons to Get a Rhinoplasty

Your nose is a prominent feature, so it’s understandable if you opt for a nose job (rhinoplasty) to change the size or shape if you find it displeasing. But aesthetics aren’t the only reason you may choose to undergo rhinoplasty.

While rhinoplasty can change the size or angle of your nose, straighten a crooked bridge, reshape a pointy tip ,or narrow large nostrils, the surgery offers more than cosmetic solutions to those with breathing problems or disfigurement.

At the Plastic Surgery Arts Center, Dr. Jan Garcia Jr. wants you to consider the medical reasons you might undergo rhinoplasty. When rhinoplasty is performed for a valid, diagnosable physical condition, it’s considered medically necessary (not elective) and may be covered by insurance. 

Some nasal conditions that may be resolved with rhinoplasty include birth defects, breathing problems, and nasal abnormalities.

Birth defects

Plastic surgery can restore a normal smile to children with cleft lip and cleft palate. Without surgery, these defects can make it hard for children to eat and thrive.

Nasal defects often accompany cleft lip and palate. These include deviated septum, misshapen cartilage, abnormalities in the facial bones around the nose, and a deficient inner lining of the nose.

With rhinoplasty, Dr. Garcia can correct these problems to restore the look and function of a child’s nose. It’s not uncommon for a series of surgeries to be required over the course of a person’s life to get optimal results.

Breathing problems

If you have a deviated septum, the center cartilage of your nose is not centered, making it difficult to breathe through the nose. It’s often an underlying reason for recurring sinus infections.

Recurring sinus infections cause a near constant stuffiness in your nose that makes it hard to breathe. The area around your nasal passages may feel tender, and you experience constant headaches and fatigue.

The nasal obstruction caused by a deviated septum also causes breathing irregularities that may impair exercise, contribute to snoring and sleep apnea, and disturb sleep.

You may be born with a deviated septum or you could experience trauma, such as a blow to the face, that shifts the cartilage. 

For a deviated septum, rhinoplasty is performed together with a septoplasty, which corrects the septum position. The rhinoplasty portion of the surgery corrects the outward skewed or crooked appearance of the nose itself. Both surgeries are required to fully repair the breathing problems. 

Nasal abnormalities

People with serious nasal inflammation due to chronic allergies may have trouble breathing normally. A rhinoplasty that widens the nasal structures within the nose allows for fuller, more complete breaths, even when inflammation is present.

Polyps sometimes develop in the nasal passages due to chronic inflammation associated with asthma, allergies, drug sensitivities, or some immune disorders. The polyps can impair nasal function. These noncancerous growths may be removed with rhinoplasty, greatly improving a patient’s quality of life.

What to expect with rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is performed while you’re under general anesthesia, but usually doesn’t require an overnight stay in the hospital. Dr. Garcia accesses the nasal passages with a very small incision made along the base of the nose, which is not noticeable once healing is complete.

Usually, the procedure doesn’t require adjustment to the bones, unless you’ve had significant trauma to the nose or have a prominent bump that needs to be shaved down. Most rhinoplasty surgery involves reshaping the cartilage and soft tissue in the area.

Recovery from rhinoplasty requires about a week off from work or school. You may find it hard to breathe during recovery due to swelling and splints placed inside the nose to keep the septum straight. You’ll also have a small cast placed over your nose to protect it during healing. 

The cast and splints are removed within a week of surgery. You can resume most activity, apart from contact sports, about two weeks following surgery. This includes work and cardio activity, such as running or walking.

You’ll notice a significant reduction in swelling in the first month after surgery, and all visible swelling should disappear within one year.

If you’re considering rhinoplasty for medical or cosmetic reasons, don’t hesitate to call us at the Plastic Surgery Arts Center to set up a consultation. You may also use this website to schedule.