When many people hear the phrase “nose job,” they assume that the subject of that statement must have always disliked the physical appearance of their nose, whether it was because of a nasal hump, flared nostrils, or an imbalance with the rest of their face. The truth is, however, aesthetics are only one reason to consider rhinoplasty. Rhinoplasty has many other health-related benefits that can significantly improve the patient’s quality of life.
To Repair a Deviated Septum
Rhinoplasty can correct many functional issues related to the nasal passage. The most common issue comes from a deviated septum. A deviated septum occurs when the thin piece of cartilage that separates the nostrils is crooked, leaving one nasal passageway larger than the other. While this may not sound like it would create serious problems, an untreated deviated septum can lead to:
- Trouble breathing through the nose
- Difficulty sleeping
- Nosebleeds
- Facial pain
- Recurring sinus infections
- Snoring or being a “noisy” sleeper
- Constant nasal congestion
While many people are born with deviated septums, they can also occur after a facial injury.
Relief After an Injury
Unfortunately, many people who never gave rhinoplasty a thought may find themselves considering the surgery after an incident. Facial injuries can result from many situations, such as sports injuries, car accidents, trips and falls, etc. and can change one’s appearance in an instant. Facial injuries not only result in deviated septums and difficulty breathing but a host of other physical and aesthetic concerns.
For Revision Purposes
Although rhinoplasty is performed hundreds of thousands of time a year in the United States and even more commonly throughout the rest of the world, it is still one of the most technically difficult cosmetic surgeries to complete. When you consider nose surgery, there are many ways that inexperienced or unskilled surgeons can err on such a small feature.
In this surgery, bone and cartilage are removed, grafts are taken, nasal areas are built up, and the structural support of your nose will be altered. While some errors may show immediately, a few nasal defects take months or years after your initial surgery to surface.
Rhinoplasty has the highest rate of revision amongst all cosmetic procedures and, unfortunately, there is always the risk of needing a secondary rhinoplasty. Before you get too worried, it’s important to remember that the vast majority of nasal surgeries occur without this problem, and bring with it some of the most stunning aesthetic and functional transformations.
If you are interested in rhinoplasty for either aesthetic or functional reasons, contact Dr. Ip today by calling our Newport Beach office at (949) 548-0300, our Beverly Hills office at (310) 839-0776, or our New York City office at (855) 742-8800.
