Connect with us

Health

Can Rhinoplasty Be Both Cosmetic and Medical?

Published

on

What Is Rhinoplasty?

If you have never heard the term rhinoplasty before, it might seem confusing. Rhinoplasty is the technical term for surgery that alters the cartilage of the nose. This procedure is often performed as cosmetic surgery for people who feel that their nose is too large or is somehow misshapen.

Often, people decide to have this surgery after a broken nose results in a change in the appearance of their nasal cartilage that they find undesirable, such as a bump, dent, or curve. Rhinoplasty often referred to as a nose job, is commonly thought of as being cosmetic or elective surgery. This is not always the case, however. Some people need rhinoplasty in order to fix serious issues with nasal breathing.

Reasons For Medical Rhinoplasty

There are a number of reasons that a patient might opt for medical rhinoplasty or that a doctor may suggest it. One of the most common reasons is a deviated septum. The septum is the bridge of skin and cartilage between the two nostrils at the bottom of the nose.

A deviated septum refers to any of a variety of abnormalities in this area which makes nasal breathing difficult or impossible. This can result in snoring, sleep apnea, and other sleep and cognitive interruptions due to a lack of proper oxygen intake. Remedying the issue of a deviated septum via medical rhinoplasty is common, and is generally an outpatient procedure that does not need to interfere with a patient’s life for more than a few days.

Breathing issues caused by a severely broken nose are another reason for medical rhinoplasty. Many people do not realize that a broken nose can not be treated in the same way as a broken arm or leg for one simple reason- the nose is not truly made of bone, it is made of cartilage.

Aside from treating the injury site and giving medication for pain, there is little a doctor can do for a broken nose immediately after the break. Sometimes, once the nose heals, damage to cartilage can cause issues with breathing or the blockage of a nasal passage. It is hard to determine immediately after the injury if this will be a lasting issue, but if after healing the issue remains, a medical rhinoplasty is often recommended.

Do I Need Medical Rhinoplasty?

People who have severe nasal breathing issues may need to consider the possibility that they need medical rhinoplasty. Consulting with both a primary care physician and an accredited plastic surgeon are the first steps in determining if surgery of this nature is recommended.

While most people have a primary care physician, researching an accredited facility for rhinoplasty is as simple as turning to the Internet or social media. Many surgical facilities have a social media presence and a website that details their accreditation, procedures and gives a demonstration of results. By using these technologies to research potential facilities for a medical rhinoplasty, patients can compare the services and prices of a variety of accredited facilities quickly and easily.