Can a Rhinoplasty Surgery Cause Problems In Functionality?

Rhinoplasty operations can be intended to improve only the appearane of the nose or both the the appearance and the functionality of the nose. The changes that are needed to reshape the nose also involve changes being made to the inner skeletal structure of the nose. It is important that the surgeon performing the rhinplasty operation understands both the nasal structure anatomically and the surgical approaches in both functional and cosmetic terms.

Rhinoplasty operations can be performed to correct functional issues such as breathing problems due to deformities in the cartilage and bone structure. Functional problems due to these kind of deformities in the internal structure of the nose can be congenital, or can be due to trauma recieved to the nose or a previous operation that was performed. A well-performed rhinoplasty operation should correct these functional problems. Ideally, a rhinoplasty operation is not expected to cause any problems in the functionality of the nose. However, sometimes due to surgical complications, the patient’s ability to breathe may be worsened after the operation. If a patient’s ability to breathe from their nose has worsened after a rhinoplasty operation due to surgical performance, this can be improved with additional surgical procedures.

Also, some patients may experience a temporary loss of taste or smell after a rhinoplasty operation. When people breathe through their noses, the nerve endings in the nose can sense the smell as the air passes through. The same air particules then pass from the nasal cavity to the back of the throat. The taste nerves on the tongue can also percieve taste in relation to the air flow. When people have a cold and their noses are stuffed, nerves and air passages can get blocked, making it harder to smell and taste. The same condition can occur temporarily after a rhinoplasty operation due to the swelling and bruising of the nasal tissues. It is very rare that the ability to taste or smell after a nose surgery is permanently affected.