Could my ongoing nasal congestion be helped with rhinoplasty?
I suffer with allergies and colds, but even when they aren’t too severe I get lots of nasal congestion. I’ve had nose problems all my life, and a friend suggested that getting a rhinoplasty could help because it might be down to the physical anatomy of the inside of my nose. Any thoughts?
American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Dear Michael,
The causes of nasal congestion or airway flow obstruction are many. There are anatomical causes such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates. There are inflammatory conditions such as polyps. There is dynamic functional structural obstruction such as a collapsing internal valve and even nasal tumours. A rhinoplasty is the change in the cosmetic and aesthetic appearance of the nose. As most rhinoplasties are reductive in nature most certified rhinoplasty surgeons will also perform a septoplasty or airway surgery to increase airflow while reducing the size of the nose with the hope and anticipation that nasal breathing will not be worsened and may in fact be improved.
If you’re quite happy with the aesthetic appearance of your nose then you should seek the advice of a certified otolaryngologist with an expertise in airflow surgery and diagnosis as a small scope examination of your nasal passageway would warranted with or without imaging such as a CT scan or MRI.
If you do have aesthetic nasal concerns then a rhinoplasty could be performed and in most circumstances the cost of the septoplasty, which is covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan is usually covered during your cosmetic rhinoplasty.
As you can see the options and solutions can be quite individualized and detailed and require a careful consultation with a rhinoplasty surgeon or septorhinoplasty surgeon with airflow expertise.
I hope this information has been of some assistance and best of luck.
For more information, please review our rhinoplasty and septoplasty pages.
To schedule a consultation if you have aesthetic rhinoplasty concerns, as well as airflow concerns, please call SpaMedica at (416) 922-2868 or visit us at our website at http://www.spamedica.com.
R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.
Certified Plastic Surgeon
Yorkville, Toronto