Functional Benefits of Rhinoplasty

When you think about the reasons why a person would want to get a nose job, or rhinoplasty, it’s likely you think about cosmetic reasons. Maybe their nose is too big, it’s too small, it’s crooked or they have a hump in their nose that they want to remove. And while it is true that a good portion of individuals who get rhinoplasty do so for purely cosmetic reasons, it is also true that a large number of rhinoplasty patients do so not necessarily to improve the way that their nose looks, but instead to improve the way that their nose functions. Many people use rhinoplasty as a way to restore their ability to breathe through their nose. This is referred to as functional rhinoplasty. It is different than cosmetic rhinoplasty, which is done solely to make a person look better. Functional rhinoplasty focuses not on the aesthetics of the nose, but on the functionality of the nasal valves. Some individuals have nasal valves that are narrow because of a congenital birth defect. Others have nasal valves that are narrow because with age or as a result of an accident, they have collapsed. While the goal of a functional procedure is not to change a person’s appearance, usually the only way to repair the cartilage in the nose is to make some change to the nose's appearance. A person may consider this procedure if they have endured a nasal injury, have a birth defect, have a deformity as a result of trauma, have obstructed breathing or a have had a collapse of nasal valves. Functional rhinoplasty can be performed using a variety of techniques, depending on the situation. The majority of patients would agree that the benefits of functional rhinoplasty far outweigh the minute risks that are involved in having a surgical procedure performed. They are able to breathe better, their nose may look better and they feel better because they are getting the oxygen they need to live in a healthy way. Talk to Dr. Jennifer Parker Porter at Chevy Chase Facial Plastic Surgery to get all the facts about rhinoplasty and how it can work for you, whether it be done for cosmetic or functional reasons. Dr. Porter and her team proudly serve clients in the Washington, DC and surrounding areas. Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our office in Bethesda, MD.