Asthma is a very difficult condition to live with. I know, because I’ve had it my entire life. As a child, I had to use nebulizer treatments several times a day, but even that didn’t keep me out of the emergency room when suffering from a bad attack. Fortunately, as my asthma improved during my teen years and now that I’m an adult, all I need to use are my inhalers. However, I still have breathing difficulties, which are only worsened by my severe allergies. My doctor told me rhinoplasty might help, so five years ago I decided to get the operation.
Why rhinoplasty helps some people?
Not everyone will benefit from rhinoplasty, but this type of plastic surgery can help some people. If you have a deviated septum which is blocking your nasal pathways, then a good plastic surgeon should be able to improve it so you have better airflow. If you have weak nasal valves that collapse when you breathe in, then a skill rhinoplasty surgeon should be able to strengthen it through the use of cartilage grafting. Although these things won’t directly improve your allergies or asthma, they can make coping with them a little bit easier.
What was my surgery like?
As mentioned, I underwent my rhinoplasty five years ago. Insurance covered a significant portion of it, but I still had to pay a hefty sum out-of-pocket. The surgeon claimed to be an expert at this procedure, but after reading this rhinoplasty forum, I later found out this was just clever marketing. In reality, he was an overpriced, underskilled plastic surgeon. The goal of the surgery was to correct my deviated septum, strengthen my nasal valves, and reduce my turbinates (a structure inside your nose which filters air). Overall the surgery went okay, but the recovery took a long time. In fact, after open rhinoplasty, the nose can stay swollen for up to 24 months!
What was the outcome of my surgery?
Generally, it takes at least a year to truly see and experience the outcome of your surgery. This is because of the swelling, and also because it takes time for the cartilage to settle into place. Unfortunately in my case, I ended up needing a revision surgery later on, because the cartilage did not heal as predicted (it warped out of place). Although this experience has helped with my breathing, I would highly advise against the turbinate reduction surgery which accompanied it. My reduced turbinates now contribute to a wide array of sinus drainage problems. So if you choose to undergo rhinoplasty, skip that part of the operation. Most importantly, be sure to diligently research doctors before deciding. Read reviews on rhinoplasty forums, message boards, and elsewhere.