Functional rhinoplasty is important and useful for many health conditions. Many people think of the rhinoplasty procedure only as the ticket to an improved appearance and a better-looking nose. The nose job is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures in the world, but it can serve other purposes. In some cases, an expert facial plastic surgeon can perform a functional rhinoplasty to eliminate nasal obstructions within the nose. This will help to improve physical symptoms for the patient, such as difficulty breathing or excessive snoring throughout the night.
Many people discount snoring as an inconvenience or a trivial matter — but it can actually be a sign of a more serious health problem. Sleep apnea is a condition that prevents a person from breathing properly while they sleep. Severe sleep apnea not only results in disrupted sleep, but it can also result in other health-related complications. Patients who are suffering from sleep apnea should know that there is a sleep apnea treatment available that will provide them with the relief they need to sleep through the night, every night.
Symptoms of Sleep Apnea
Obstructive Sleep Apnea, or OSA, is a condition in which the patient stops breathing for a certain period of time throughout the night. Severe sleep apnea episodes will frequently occur and can prevent the patient from sleeping well because they cannot breathe. In addition to leaving the patient feeling tired and stressed each morning, this condition actually deprives the patient of much-needed oxygen. This is why people who are suffering from sleep apnea need to seek the help of a nose expert who can provide them with the treatment they need.
The first sign of sleep apnea is often loud and excessive snoring. If your bed partner is constantly complaining about the noise that you make throughout the night, you might want to make an appointment with an ENT surgeon in order to find out if there is an underlying cause of your snoring episodes.
Patients with sleep apnea may wake up feeling startled throughout the night, trying to catch their breath. They also might notice that they wake up with a dry mouth each morning or feel thirsty when they first wake up. Because of the disruption in sleep each night, most people who suffer from sleep apnea also feel fatigued throughout the day. As a result, they may fall asleep unexpectedly or at inappropriate times because they cannot get the rest that they genuinely need.
What Functional Rhinoplasty Procedures Are Available?
The functional rhinoplasty
During this operation, the surgeon will perform a traditional rhinoplasty procedure with the hope of altering the appearance of the nose in order to improve airflow. The goal of this procedure will not be to improve the appearance necessarily, but rather to make modifications that will make it easier for the patient to breathe. However, the patient can discuss their aesthetic improvement options during the consultation in order to explore the possibility of cosmetic enhancements.
The septoplasty
The septoplasty is a medically-necessary procedure that will fix a deviated septum within the nose. When the nasal septum is deviated, it can cause an obstruction and lead to difficulty breathing, nasal congestion, and even trouble sleeping through the night. In addition, snoring is often a common side effect of having a deviated septum. If a deviated septum is causing the nasal obstruction in the patient’s nose, this is the best surgical procedure available. It will provide the patient with the relief they seek, but it will not enhance, alter or improve the appearance of the person’s nose. It can be combined with the rhinoplasty, though, if the patient so chooses.
The turbinate reduction procedure
The nasal turbinate reduction surgery is the best option for patients whose nasal obstruction is being caused by enlarged nasal turbinates. The turbinates are small structures within the nose that work to humidify the air, keep the nose moist, and also purify the air that people breathe. However, the turbinates can easily become irritated, causing them to become inflamed and enlarged. This can lead to nasal obstruction and prevent the patient from breathing properly. The turbinate reduction surgery will reduce the size of the turbinates in order to provide patients with the relief that they need from the obstruction.
Finding a Qualified Cosmetic Surgeon
If you are dealing with sleep apnea or other issues and want to find a solution, you need to find an expert surgeon. Frequently, a cosmetic surgeon who performs nose job procedures will also offer patients sleep apnea treatment options.
The most commonly used treatment option involves a non-surgical procedure called the balloon sinus dilation procedure in order to treat severe sleep apnea. Balloon sinus dilation treats the underlying cause of the sleep apnea, unlike many other treatments such as the CPAP machine that treat the symptoms of sleep apnea. Other treatment options that patients should consider includes endoscopic sinus surgery or turbinate reduction surgery. The treatment option that is necessary will depend on the exact cause of the sleep apnea. To find out more about your sleep apnea and to figure out the best treatment option for you, set up a consultation appointment today.
In order to find out which type of functional nose surgery is best, patients should set up a consultation appointment with a qualified cosmetic surgeon. This will give the surgeon the chance to evaluate the patient and provide them with a diagnosis as to what is causing the nasal obstruction. The cause of the obstruction will determine which type of surgical procedure is necessary or if a combination procedure may be the best route to go. The critical thing to remember is that patients do not have to settle for the physical limitations of nasal obstructions. There are procedures that can provide them with the relief and comfort that they desire.