Breathe Better - Rhinoplasty Clinic Sydney

Treating Breathing Problems with Rhinoplasty

December 24, 2014 By @RhinoplastySyd

About rhinoplasty for treating breathing problems

Your nose, though it looks simple on the outside, actually has a complex system of airways, tissue and other structures within it that enable you to breathe correctly. Many people who have a problem with their nose have difficulty breathing. For example, people with a deviated septum may have significant problems breathing.

Rhinoplasty is one such recommended way of treating such problems. Whilst rhinoplasty is often a cosmetic procedure, rhinoplasty also has significant health benefits for people.

Let’s take a look at what rhinoplasty can fix, other than the appearance of the nose.

Injuries

Some people might suffer injuries that affect the structure of their nose. For example, somebody involved in a contact sport might suffer several broken noses, leading to significant and visible damage.

While the visibility of the damage might be a problem for many people, it may also lead to breathing issues. Cosmetic surgeons can not only make the nose look better, they can quite often fix the structure of the nose internally, allowing it to function normally once again.

This is something you will have to consult with a surgeon about. If you have suffered some significant damage to your nose, such as from a car crash, the aforementioned contact sports or otherwise, speaking to a physician about it might help you to get it restored so that you can breathe easily again.

Deviated Septum

The septum is the part of your nose that divides one nostril from the other. When it is improperly aligned, it can cause difficulty breathing and, in some cases, the difficulty can be significant. It could potentially lead to conditions such as sleep apnoea, for instance.

Rhinoplasty has within its techniques methods that can be used to correct the deviated septum, making the nose function as it properly should. Nasal septoplasty, performed together with rhinoplasty, can address issues relating to nasal obstruction. For people who were born with a deviated septum, this can correct the breathing issues and the cosmetic issues in the space of one procedure.

Getting the Surgery

If you are worried about the stay at hospital, you will probably only need to stay overnight after having a rhinoplasty. The surgery is done as an inpatient procedure under a combination of local and general anaesthesia. After you are done, you will wear a splint on the nose for around two weeks’ time. You will have some bruising and swelling, but this is normal and nothing to be concerned about.

Pain should be well controlled afterwards. Standard pain medications will usually be needed for the first few days after surgery, together with ice packs which also help to alleviate pain and swelling.

Around two weeks after surgery you will notice that the bruising goes away and within six weeks, you should start to notice the swelling subside. Even when rhinoplasty is performed as a functional procedure to improve breathing, you will likely also notice that the appearance of your nose has improved afterwards. As the trauma from the surgery fades, this will only become more apparent.

Once everything is healed, if you had your septum straightened or another procedure to improve airflow, you should start to notice the difference right away. For some people, this is likely one of the procedures where, upon having it done, they will wonder why they waited so long.

Issues with the alignment of the nose and other types of problems that cause difficulty breathing should be looked at by a doctor. Even though people may be accustomed to living with these issues, there may be no reason for them to go on doing so at all. A routine surgical procedure may be all that it takes to fix the problem for good and vastly improve the patient’s quality of life.

References

Treating Nasal Obstructions with Rhinoplasty

July 1, 2014 By @RhinoplastySyd

About Functional Rhinoplasty

Nasal obstructions can make breathing difficult but a skilled surgeon can use a rhinoplasty procedure to make breathing much easier.

Besides cosmetic rhinoplasty, which is for appearances only, there is another type of procedure known as functional rhinoplasty. In this surgery, the surgeon seeks to improve the function of your airway without changing the contours of the nose.

Some patients would fall into both categories. Many people have noses that are misshapen, which can cause abnormalities in nasal function.

Airway Obstruction

Some common symptoms of airway obstructions include:

Mouth breathing (particularly at night)
Nasal congestion
Reduced sense of smell
Dry mouth

Side effects of airway obstructions include sleep disturbance, dysfunction of the Eustachian tube, sinus headaches, recurring sinus infections and nosebleeds. If the obstruction is not treated, you may develop obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension or insomnia.

Surgical Correction of Blocked Nasal Passages

In cases that are not complicated, a surgeon can restore proper nasal function by treating the internal passages, while not altering the exterior of the nose.

Nasal Septoplasty Surgery

This procedure was developed to correct occasions where the dividing wall between your nostrils is twisted, bowed or bent. This results in blocking of one or both passages. Septoplasty utilizes surgical techniques that straighten the partition and open up blocked airways. This procedure does not take long – usually a half hour or less – and recovery is not difficult.

Treating the External Nasal Framework

Eliminating blockages in the interior of airways works for many patients. If you have a more severe form of airway obstruction, your surgeon may operate on the external framework of your nose. If your nose is pinched, collapsed or deviated, the problem will not be cured with internal surgery alone.

In cases like these, your surgeon will use techniques of rhinoplasty to enlarge, reinforce and straighten the external nasal passages that are obstructed. This will give you an air passage that is unobstructed.

Collapse of Nasal Valves

Many cases of obstruction of external nasal airways are caused by the collapse of nasal valves. This area is the narrowest part of the airway, and it filters incoming air. The nasal valve normally will collapse during deep breathing, such as breathing during exercise. Otherwise, it remains open.

In noses that have been altered by aging, surgery, disease or injury, the skeletal support for the nasal valve is not adequate and you may develop valve collapse. There are a number of sophisticated techniques used in these cases, but no one procedure works for everyone. Techniques should be chosen based on your variations in nasal contour, tissue strength and anatomy.

Even if you would prefer a slender nose, you may have to be willing to accept the best your surgeon can do, while still allowing enough space for the passage of air. Cosmetic surgeons are also trained in the prevention of nasal valve collapse.

Improving the Function and Appearance of the Nose

Every year, thousands of people have nasal surgery. Some have it for cosmetic reasons, but other surgeries are used to correct breathing issues by removing obstructions. If you have these issues, consult a physician who is schooled in the function of nasal airways, as well as in plastic surgery. It is vitally important that the highest priority is efficient breathing.

Is Surgery an Option for People with Chronically Stuffy Noses?

If you suffer from recurring stuffy nose issues, you may have breathing problems that will not respond properly to standard treatments. When the blockage is related to nasal structure abnormalities, surgery may be a viable option.

There are many nasal obstruction causes, states ENTnet.org. The septum may be bent or crooked, due to injury or abnormal growth. This may cause blockage in one or both passages. Surgery to correct these problems is considered functional, rather than cosmetic. Some people have both types of surgery at the same time.

If you have questions about treating nasal obstructions with rhinoplasty make an appointment to see our rhinoplasty specialist.

Reference

ENTnet.org

Top 5 Reasons to Get a Nose Job

May 27, 2013 By admin

Nose Job

A nose job, also known as nose plastic surgery or rhinoplasty, is a surgical procedure used to fix deformations or defects in the human nose. This type of surgery is completely optional and can be performed for a variety of reasons. However, there are five major reasons that are the most common.

Aesthetics

When there are natural or injury caused defects present in the nose, a person can be extremely sensitive to how he or she looks and may want to seek surgery as a solution to this type of problem.

Breathing Problems

Sometimes the nasal cavity can be obstructed by a deviated septum or another physical malady that will make it very hard for a person to breathe correctly. While this kind of issue does not always require plastic surgery, if the defect is physically visible, that may be the best option.

Low Self-Confidence

A third reason to elect a nose job would be to boost one’s self-esteem. Many people are uncomfortable with their nose’s appearance, and plastic surgery is often the only way to fix it. Whether they see their nose as being too large, lumpy, upturned, or crooked, rhinoplasty would be able to easily correct that for them.

Social Pressure

Though it is not a very good reason to have surgery, social pressure is actually a pretty common one. Especially in today’s society, there are all kinds of pressures put on people to look, act, think, and even feel a certain way. Because of this, many individuals will go to extreme lengths to make sure their appearance is socially acceptable. For some people, this includes many different kinds of plastic surgeries.

Addiction

This final reason sounds a little bit ridiculous; however, addiction is a very real and present problem in societies around the world. Often times, people will become addicted to changing themselves and their appearance. This can happen in many ways, but usually it begins with the obsession of wanting to be and look perfect. When people have it in their minds that they need to be flawless, they begin to see every tiny imperfection in themselves and will do almost anything to fix these flaws.

These people might begin with a simple teeth-whitening procedure, then move on to a Botox injection, then to a face-life, and even things as extreme as breast implants and laser eye surgery. In the end, their addiction to fixing themselves will drive them to insane measures that are much more risky and complex than just a nose job.

If you have questions or concerns about your nose, having a nose job or rhinoplasty surgery contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a nose surgeon in Sydney.

Rhinoplasty – Cosmetic Nose Surgery

June 22, 2012 By admin

Rhinoplasty is cosmetic nose surgery to repair or reshape the nose

Rhinoplasty surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia, depending on the exact procedure and the surgeon and patient’s preference. Rhinoplasty is performed in a hospital or an outpatient surgery center. Complex procedures may require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure usually takes around 2 – 3 hours, but may take longer.

Rhinoplasty surgery is performed under a combination of general and local anaesthesia. You will not be aware through the procedure. The nose and the area around it is numbed with local anaesthesia. General anesthesia allows the patient to sleep through the operation.
The surgery is usually done through a cut made inside the nostrils. In some cases, the cut may be made from outside, in the base of the nose. This type of cut is used to perform work on the tip of the nose, or if you need a cartilage graft.

A small plaster may be placed on the outside of the nose. This helps maintain the new shape of the nasal bones when the surgery is finished. Soft silicone splints or nasal packs also may be placed in the nostrils to keep the dividing wall between the air passages (septum) stable.

Risks

The risks of any anaesthesia are:

Reactions to medications
Problems breathing

The risks of any surgery are:

Bleeding
Infection
Bruising

After surgery, small burst blood vessels may occasionally appear as tiny red spots on the skin’s surface. They are usually minor, but are not permanent. There are no visible scars if the rhinoplasty is performed from inside the nose. If the procedure narrows flared nostrils, there may be small scars at the base of the nose that are not usually visible. Rarely, a second procedure may be needed to fix a minor deformity.

If you have questions about cosmetic nose surgery contact your local doctor who will arrange for you to see a nose surgeon.

Overview of Nasal Septoplasty for Correcting a Deviated Septum

May 10, 2012 By admin

The two nasal passages in your nose are separated by the nasal septum. This thin wall made of cartilage is ideally located almost equally between your two nostrils. However, some people have a deviated septum that they were either born with or developed somewhere along the way. While a slightly off-center septum may not cause any problems, a significantly deviated septum often causes noticeable symptoms and can be corrected through a procedure known as nasal septoplasty.

It’s not necessary to have a perfectly straight septum; very few people do. However, if you notice symptoms such as habitual snoring, sleep apnoea, recurrent sinus infections, postnasal drip, loud breathing, headaches, facial pain, and/or nosebleeds, you may benefit from scheduling an appointment with a nose surgeon in Sydney, especially if medications alone are not bringing about lasting relief.

Nasal Septoplasty for Correcting a Deviated Septum

Nasal septoplasty is a form of surgery that repairs a crooked septum. In most cases, the symptoms experienced before surgery are alleviated long term. Modern medicine allows surgeons to make a small incision in the septum via the nostrils in order to correct the misaligned septum. As a result, you won’t have to worry about external surgical scars.

Your nose surgeon may find that symptoms are stemming not only from a deviated septum but also from swollen turbinates along the walls of your nasal passage. This can cause air flow to be blocked leading to the symptoms described above. It is common for surgeons to perform both septoplasty and turbinate reduction surgery at the same time to completely eliminate associated symptoms. Since both procedures are relatively noninvasive, you will find that the recovery time is minimal and well worth the results achieved. Following the nose surgery recovery plan that your surgeon recommends will allow you to get back to life as normal much sooner while feeling considerable relief from previous symptoms.

Functional Rhinoplasty

February 25, 2012 By admin

Functional Rhinoplasty
Article: Jay M. Dutton, MD FACS

Introduction

The term “rhinoplasty” refers to plastic surgery that involves making changes to the internal and external structures of the nose. While this may be performed for purely cosmetic reasons to improve the appearance, often the primary or concomitant goal is to restore adequate nasal breathing, and is then referred to as a “functional rhinoplasty”. This is separate from a septoplasty, which involves only repair of the internal wall that divides the nasal cavities, or from a “cosmetic rhinoplaty”, which is only concerned about the appearance. A “functional rhinoplasty” typically involves repair of the “nasal valves”, which are the internal nostrils, and can be congenitally narrow, collapsed, or scarred from prior surgery.

Indications

The indications for a functional rhinoplasty include, but are not limited to:

Obstructed nasal breathing (functional)
Nasal injury (trauma) causing unsatisfactory breathing
Nasal birth defect impairing function
Acquired deformity due to trauma, tumor or infection
Narrowing, collapse or stenosis of the nasal valves (nostrils)

Procedure

A functional rhinoplasty may be performed under different types of anaesthesia depending on patient and physician preference, including local, intravenous sedation (i.e. “twilight”) or general anesthesia. Incisions are made to allow access to the underlying cartilage and bone. When these incisions are hidden completely inside the nostrils, the procedure is referred to as “closed”. Often, a small incision may need to be performed at the base of the nose to improve exposure, in which case it would be an “open” functional rhinoplasty.

Depending on the needs of the patient, cartilage and bone may need to be grafted to help gain support. These cartilage grafts are often taken from the nasal septum itself during the “septoplasty” portion of the procedure, although sometimes ear or even rib cartilage may need to be harvested. Further reshaping or grafting may need to be performed with sutures to the cartilage. “Osteotomies” – or deliberate fracturing of the nasal bones – may often performed to straighten the nasal bones themselves. Although cartilage grafting remains the most common type of functional rhinoplasty, procedures to reshape the nostrils (ex: a “z-plasty”) or use sutures to suspend the nostrils upward have grown in popularity.

At the conclusion of the procedure, the outside of the nose is often taped and some form of external cast may be applied. Silicone sheets and/or packing may also be temporarily placed inside the nose as needed.

Risks

Studies have shown that most functional rhinoplasties heal without adverse sequelae and the vast majority of patients are able to breathe better. However, there are potential complications that every surgical candidate should be aware of before proceeding with the procedure, and these include (but are not limited to):

Complications of anaesthesia
Epistaxis (nosebleed)
Septal perforation (hole in internal wall of the nose)
Unsatisfactory appearance
Revision surgery
Infections
Worsening in the nasal breathing

Benefits

An improvement in nasal breathing is the primary benefit of a rhinoplasty performed for functional reasons
Rhinoplasty may also straighten the nose, repair post-traumatic or congenital deformities, and improve the appearance

Summary

A functional rhinoplasty is a procedure to improve the function of the external nose, and may entail a great range of techniques depending on the patient’s goals, the anatomic problems, and the surgeon’s preferences
Nose job surgery may be done with the patient awake or under anaesthesia, as a primary surgery or revision surgery, may involve cartilage grafting, may be performed “closed” or “open”, and may involve a brief or protracted recovery
Patients should enter into discussions with their surgeon with specific goals in mind, and should understand the procedure itself, its risks and its benefits after consulting with their surgeon.