COMMUNITY NEWS
Beyond Beauty: The Dual Benefits of Rhinoplasty for Aesthetic and Breathing Health By Dr. Jeremy White
Winter has begun, bringing with it time with the family, great food, and seasonal allergies. Stuffy nose, post-nasal drip, and itchy eyes are all common symptoms that often can be managed with over the counter medications like Claritin and Flonase. If you get the sense that trouble breathing through your nose is not just a seasonal issue, however, you could have other structural issues that are preventing you from getting some fresh air. Three of the most common structural issues for adults are a deviated septum, large inferior turbinates, and nasal valve collapse. The nasal septum is a partition wall that separates the nose into two passages internally. 70-80% of people have some kind of crookedness to their septum, whether they were just born that way or due to a prior trauma, but it does not always cause symptoms like snoring or breathing trouble. If it does remain troublesome despite medical management, deviated septum surgery can offer relief. Inferior turbinate enlargement often comes hand in hand with a troublesome septum either due to turbulent airflow or allergies. Turbinates are normal bones inside the nose that are covered with a lining that can get thick when inflamed, causing them to block the nose. These can be treated at the same time as a septoplasty with a shrinking procedure, but can thicken again if the cause is an untreated allergy. The third most common issue that I see is nasal valve collapse, which manP.22 / T S F C O M M U N I T YVO I C E .C O M
ifests with nostril or nasal sidewall pinching at baseline or with inspiration. This issue is related to external nose tissue weakness that can develop with age, trauma, or overly aggressive rhinoplasty surgery. When externally placed dilating tapes like breathe-rite strips no longer help, valve collapse can be treated surgically by adding cartilage for support. Think of it like adding some steel beams to reinforce your roof.
Are these procedures covered by medical insurance? Each policy is different, but most policies will cover deviated septum and turbinate surgery if medical management has failed. What if I want to make some cosmetic changes to my nose at the same time? Cosmetic rhinoplasty is never covered by insurance, but is a great procedure to consider doing alone or at the same time as breathing