Can Rhinoplasty Narrow a Wide Nose without Impacting Breathing?

A nose job – known in the medical field as Rhinoplasty – is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures.

It is often useful to improve the size and shape of the nose when a person is unhappy with it. It is also a valuable procedure for medical purposes, such as in the case of trauma or a birth defect.

There is also the possibility that rhinoplasty can make breathing easier for those who suffer from a deviated septum or other structural problems. But like all procedures, there is some risk involved. For those who want their nose narrower, there is a chance that a nose job could negatively impact breathing. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this from happening.

What Happens When the Nose is Narrowed?

In order to make a nose narrower, a surgeon has to either weaken or remove the cartilage in the nose. In extreme cases, he will remove part of the bone. However, cartilage is important, as it maintains the structure of your nose. If a surgeon removes too much, your nostrils could collapse and cause breathing problems.

The damage may not be apparent immediately after surgery. However, many years down the road, nasal congestion will worsen and even lead to sleep apnea.

How to Prevent Breathing Problems

A successful rhinoplasty procedure will narrow a nose without causing these problems. There is not much that a patient can do, however. It all depends on the plastic surgeon’s technique and skill. The procedure must be done properly, which means removing only the necessary amount of cartilage, in order to create the shape and size that the patient desires. When the procedure removes too much cartilage, it is when the nose becomes too narrow for normal breathing. Therefore, there is a delicate balance between form and function.

The surgeon should fully assess each patient’s situation to determine the extent of the surgery. Each rhinoplasty procedure is different, so the surgeon will need to customize the surgery based on your facial features, nasal structure and breathing. These factors will determine the surgery, as there are several methods to perform rhinoplasty.