The nose plays a central role in facial appearance and also has important functional responsibilities, including breathing. Some people may be concerned about the appearance or structure of their nose, or experience symptoms related to nasal obstruction. In selected cases, nasal surgery may be considered to address specific structural or functional issues. A thorough assessment by a qualified specialist is required to determine whether surgery is appropriate, and outcomes can vary between individuals. Below is a list of common nose problems that Nose Surgery can help alleviate.
Nose surgeries, as the name describes, are surgeries that are performed on the nose, both internally and externally. More often than not, the focus of these surgeries is to address issues relating to nasal airflow. An obstructing nasal passage makes it difficult for you to breathe and may cause a wide range of medical conditions. The nose surgeries remove the obstruction and therefore improve airflow.
There are several medical and cosmetic reasons one would choose to undergo nose surgery. Depending on the cause of the concern, the type of surgery can change as well. Before we discuss the different types of surgeries, it is important to discuss the different medical reasons why a nose surgery might be an appropriate option for you.
The two main conditions treated by different nose surgeries are a deviated nasal septum and obstructive sleep apnea. It is important to note that a deviated nasal septum surgery, although a medical necessity, also has cosmetic benefits. It improves breathing and rectifies the nasal septum, which then improves the shape of the nose externally. Obstructive sleep apnea is not treated completely by nose surgery alone. It requires other forms of treatment as well.
There are several other medical reasons for nose surgery, such as:
Nose surgery can also target the shape and size of the nose, not for medical reasons but rather for cosmetic reasons. Many people who are concerned with the shape of their noses often choose to undergo cosmetic nose surgery.
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The turbinate reduction and septoplasty procedures are more common than the rest for medical reasons while rhinoplasty surgery is mainly cosmetic.
Nose surgery, regardless of the type of reason, is a complex and major surgery that requires quite a bit of downtime. It also deals with the most central feature of the face, making it an even more important procedure. Given the complexity of nose surgery, not everyone is able to undergo the procedure. Instead, only those who meet the eligibility criteria set forth by the surgeons are able to undergo the procedure.
To be able to undergo nasal surgery, you must be:
A surgeon will determine your physical health during the consultation period by performing a thorough physical examination and taking blood for a few lab tests. The purpose of these tests is to make sure that it is safe for you to undergo a surgical procedure.
As mentioned above, nasal surgery can be performed for a wide variety of reasons, however, below is a list of the five most common nose problems. If you feel uncomfortable with your nose shape, size or structure, you should book an appointment to discuss the possibility of nasal surgery to fix those issues.
A nasal bridge refers to the bony area of the nose between the nasal root, between the eyes, and the tip of the nose. One of the main irregularities of a nasal bridge is a bump, which ruins the aesthetics of the nose, and consequently, the face. Another irregularity of the nasal bridge is a wide nasal bridge, which is also a cosmetic concern.
As an irregular nasal bridge is majorly a cosmetic concern, the nasal surgery of choice to fix the nasal bridge is a rhinoplasty procedure. During this procedure, the surgeon makes incisions on the skin overlying the nasal septum, right above the philtrum. Then, the surgeon might remove the bumpy parts or shave off extra to narrow the nasal bridge. The aim is to give the nasal bridge a straight and narrow appearance that matches the much-desired Scandinavian noses.
Another example of a nasal bridge irregularity is a low nasal bridge. This issue has two possible solutions; one is non-surgical and the other is surgical. Low nasal bridges are common in certain ethnicities and for those who want to get rid of them but do not want to undergo a surgical procedure, injectable fillers are the best solution. They are usually hyaluronic acid fillers that a qualified injector can inject into the nasal bridge to reshape it.
The surgical method, on the other hand, is a type of rhinoplasty procedure in which your surgeon will use cartilage grafts to reduce the flatness of the nasal bridge and augment it. The use of cartilage grafts is a relatively new practice that has shown quite promising and natural-appearing results.
Wide nostrils are an aesthetic concern that requires manipulation of the nasal bones to fix. Wide nostrils, especially those that are asymmetric with the entire face, can be quite stressful to handle and cause a rift in interpersonal relationships due to insecurities and lack of confidence.
The procedure for fixing wide nostrils is a major surgical procedure that those in the medical industry called an osteotomy or wide nostrils rhinoplasty.
For the purpose of this procedure, the surgeon will need to break the nasal bones to narrow the nasal bridge and remove excess skin to reduce the size of the nostrils.
The procedure not only narrows the nostrils but also narrows the entire nose, giving it a smoother and thinner appearance. However, it is important to discuss the expected results of the procedure with the surgeon because a narrow nose with other facial features that are quite prominent can cause the face to look asymmetric.
You can also fix wide nostrils with liquid fillers containing hyaluronic acid, also known as liquid rhinoplasty. However, since the nostrils are wide and bone or other structures aren’t being manipulated, the results aren’t as prominent as a wide nostril rhinoplasty. But if the idea of nasal surgery is scary to you, liquid rhinoplasty may be the best option.
A crooked nose is a term we use to describe any type of nose shape that is not symmetric. However, every deformity has its own name and crooked nose is not an umbrella term that covers all structural abnormalities of the nose. A crooked nose occurs when one side of the nasal bone is larger than the other side. This ruins the symmetry of the nose and gives the appearance of an off-centre, crooked nose.
Since the issue is mostly cosmetic and pertains to the external structures of the nose, the nasal surgery required to fix a crooked nose is a rhinoplasty. During this procedure, the surgeon will gain access to the nasal bones through the nasal skin covering the septum. Surgeons perform the procedure this way so that the scarring is easy to hide.
Once the surgeon gains access to the external bones, they will alter them so they are as symmetrical as possible. After achieving symmetry and the desired results, the surgeon will close the incision with sutures.
A prominent nasal tip is a major aesthetic concern, especially if the tip is either bulbous or pointy. This often happens because there is excess cartilage at the tip of the nose or the nasal septum is projecting outwardly. Either way, the best and most permanent way of treating this nose problem is by undergoing a rhinoplasty procedure.
During the rhinoplasty procedure, the surgeon will simply remove the excess cartilage from the nose and narrow the nasal wings, in case of a bulbous tip, to improve the overall appearance of the nose.
The main aim of the procedure is to give the nasal tip a softer, often more feminine appearance. As a pointy tip of the nose is often combined with a bumpy nasal bridge, a rhinoplasty procedure to fix the nasal tip will also include the smoothening of the nasal bridge.
A deviated nasal septum, unlike the nose problems discussed above, is a medical problem that causes breathing difficulties. It can also be an aesthetic concern as the shape of the nose tends to be a bit crooked as a result of a deviated nasal septum. Since the septum is what is affected here, the procedure of choice to treat this problem is septoplasty.
For the purpose of a septoplasty procedure, the surgeon will reshape the cartilage to straighten it as much as possible. In some cases, the surgeon may shave cartilage and nasal bones to rectify the deviation. Once the airway has been cleared and the septum has been straightened, the surgeon will suture the incisions and the septoplasty procedure is over.
Trauma such as a punch to the face, a fall, or a car accident can deform the nose, causing the bones to break, the septum to deviate, and even the nose to swell up. In case of severe damage to the nose, patients will likely undergo a combination of nose surgeries to reshape the nose and improve its appearance. Swelling and broken bones may also obstruct the nasal passages which nasal surgery can help correct.
The common procedures performed after a traumatic incident are septoplasty, osteotomy, and rhinoplasty. Read Broken Nose Surgery for more information.
Dr Stephen Kleid is an experienced ENT Surgeon (Otolaryngologist) based in Melbourne with a passion for Septo-rhinoplasty, Septoplasty and a strong interest in Rhinoplasty Revision.
The Melbourne ENT Team takes pleasure in assisting you with any questions when considering a plastic surgery procedure. Please call the St Kilda East clinic in Melbourne between 9am – 5 pm on Weekdays.