Will Nasal Shape Also Change After Rhinitis Surgery? The Difference Between Functional Rhinoplasty and Rhinitis Surgery

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Will Nasal Shape Also Change After Rhinitis Surgery?

The Difference Between Functional Rhinoplasty and Rhinitis Surgery

VERYGOOD PLASTIC SURGERY

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When looking into rhinitis surgery,

you may have one question:

“Will the shape of my nose also change if I undergo rhinitis surgery?”

To give you the answer first,

general rhinitis surgery is not intended

to change the external appearance of the nose.

This is because treating functional problems

inside the nose, such as the nasal septum or inferior turbinates,

according to the cause of nasal congestion,

has a different purpose from improving

the externally visible shape of the nose,

such as the bridge, tip, or a crooked nose.

However, if structural problems inside the nose

and concerns about its external appearance occur together,

functional rhinoplasty—which combines

functional treatment with cosmetic rhinoplasty—

may be considered.

So, what exactly is the difference

between rhinitis surgery and functional rhinoplasty,

and in what cases can the two

be considered together?

Let’s take a look.

Table of Contents

1. Will nasal shape also change after rhinitis surgery?

2. What is the difference between rhinitis surgery and functional rhinoplasty?

3. In what cases can functional rhinoplasty be considered?

4. Why can a crooked nose and nasal congestion occur together?

5. What examinations are needed when planning functional rhinoplasty?

6. What must be checked before rhinitis-related nasal surgery?

7. Frequently asked questions about functional rhinoplasty

8. Will nasal shape also change after rhinitis surgery?

Rhinitis surgery itself is generally

not surgery intended to change

the shape of the nose.

The symptoms described as rhinitis

can have various causes.

The nasal mucosa may be swollen

due to allergies or chronic inflammation,

or the nasal septum may be deviated

or the inferior turbinates enlarged,

narrowing the passage through which air flows.

Therefore, if surgery is necessary,

the structures requiring treatment

will depend on the cause of the current nasal congestion.

Cosmetic rhinoplasty, on the other hand,

primarily aims to change the externally visible shape of the nose

by considering the height and width of the bridge,

the shape and angle of the tip,

the length of the nose, and facial proportions.

In other words,

surgery to improve nasal function

and surgery to change the external shape of the nose

should be distinguished based on their purposes.

2. What is the difference between rhinitis surgery and functional rhinoplasty?

The easiest way to distinguish the two

is to identify the “purpose of the surgery.”

Category	Rhinitis/Functional Surgery	Functional Rhinoplasty
Main purpose	Improving the functional problems causing nasal congestion	Considering functional problems and concerns about appearance together
Areas examined	Nasal septum, inferior turbinates, and other areas	Internal structures + external features such as the bridge and tip
External design	Not the primary purpose	The shape of the nose is planned for each individual
Diagnosis	Identifying the cause of nasal congestion	Evaluating the functional causes and external condition separately
Surgical plan	Focused on the necessary functional treatment	Coordinating the scope of functional and cosmetic surgery together

An important point here is that

functional rhinoplasty does not refer

to one fixed surgical technique.

The cause of nasal congestion differs from person to person,

as does the desired nasal shape,

so the scope of surgery

may vary depending on the current condition.

3. In what cases can functional rhinoplasty be considered?

A typical case is when nasal congestion

and concerns about the external appearance of the nose

occur at the same time.

For example, one side of the nose may frequently feel blocked,

while the nose also appears crooked to one side externally.

There are also cases in which a person needs

the internal nasal structures, such as the nasal septum, examined

and would also like to improve concerns they have had about

a low nose, a dorsal hump, a bulbous nose,

or a drooping nasal tip.

However, even in these cases,

it is not appropriate to conclude that

“functional rhinoplasty is necessary because I have rhinitis.”

If the cause of nasal congestion is a mucosal problem,

such as allergic rhinitis,

the initial treatment approach

may be different.

Therefore, before deciding on functional rhinoplasty,

functional problems and cosmetic concerns

should be evaluated separately.

4. Why can a crooked nose and nasal congestion occur together?

In some people whose noses appear crooked externally,

the nasal septum inside the nose

is also deviated.

The nasal septum is a wall-like structure

that divides the inside of the nose into left and right sides.

If the septum is significantly deviated to one side,

the space in one nasal passage becomes relatively narrower,

which can cause a feeling of difficulty

or stuffiness when breathing.

If only the externally crooked nose is corrected

without examining the internal structures,

or if only internal function is considered

without taking the external shape of the nose into account,

there may be a difference between the surgical approach

and what the patient expected.

Therefore, when a crooked nose and nasal congestion

occur together,

it is important to examine separately

the external nasal axis and

the condition of the internal nasal septum.

5. What examinations are needed when planning functional rhinoplasty?

With functional rhinoplasty,

it is difficult to determine the entire surgical approach

based only on the shape of the nose seen in photographs.

This is because the condition inside the nose

must also be examined in addition to its external appearance.

During the consultation, it may first be necessary to determine

when the nose is most congested,

whether one side remains blocked,

whether both sides become blocked alternately,

and how the symptoms changed

when rhinitis treatment was received.

When necessary, the shape of the nasal septum

and the structural condition inside the nose

may be examined through an internal nasal examination

and imaging tests.

What to Check Before Functional Rhinoplasty

Symptom assessment

→ Frequency and side of nasal congestion

Internal structure assessment

→ Nasal septum and nasal cavity structure

Rhinitis assessment

→ Mucosal inflammation and response to previous treatment

External appearance analysis

→ Nasal bridge, tip, nasal axis, and facial proportions

Determining the scope of surgery

→ Distinguishing functional treatment from cosmetic changes

Ultimately, the purpose of the examinations

is not simply to find structures with abnormalities,

but to determine how the symptoms currently experienced

are related to the actual structures.

6. What must be checked before rhinitis-related nasal surgery?

The first is

the exact cause of nasal congestion.

Not everyone with nasal congestion

needs septoplasty

or surgery involving the inferior turbinates.

The second is

the scope of functional treatment

and cosmetic changes.

It is necessary to distinguish

whether you want functional improvement only

or also want to change the shape of the nose.

The third is

the scope of surgery possible

for the current nasal structure.

Even if you have a desired nasal shape,

the appropriate surgical approach may vary

depending on skin thickness, cartilage condition,

the length of the nose, and its existing structures.

The fourth is

that additional rhinitis management

may still be necessary after rhinitis surgery.

In particular, allergic rhinitis may require

management of trigger substances or medication

separately from structural surgery.

7. Frequently asked questions about functional rhinoplasty

Q. Will rhinitis surgery raise the bridge of my nose?​

General rhinitis surgery is not intended

to raise the bridge of the nose.

If you want an external change to the bridge or tip,

a separate plan for cosmetic rhinoplasty is necessary.

Q. If I have a deviated septum, do I necessarily need functional rhinoplasty?

No.

Even if the nasal septum is deviated,

some people have few or no symptoms,

and the relationship between the degree of deviation

and actual nasal congestion

may differ from person to person.

Therefore, the diagnosis and symptoms

must be considered together.

Q. Can I undergo rhinitis surgery and rhinoplasty separately?

This may vary depending on the condition of your nose

and the scope of surgery required.

Whether it is appropriate to plan the two surgeries together

or to proceed in stages

must be determined after examining the current nasal structures.

Q. Will functional rhinoplasty make my rhinitis go away?

It is difficult to say that functional rhinoplasty

is surgery that eliminates all causes of rhinitis.

If structural nasal congestion is present,

improvement of that area may be considered,

but inflammatory conditions such as allergic rhinitis

may require separate management.

It Is Important to Distinguish Between “Function” and “Appearance” in Rhinitis-Related Nasal Surgery

If you are considering rhinitis surgery

and rhinoplasty together,

the first step is not to decide

which surgery to undergo.

The priority is to identify the cause

of your current discomfort

and distinguish between functionally necessary treatment

and the external changes you want.

The nose is both an organ responsible for breathing

and a central facial feature that determines

the impression of the face.

Therefore, when planning functional rhinoplasty,

both aspects should be considered together.

At Verygood Plastic Surgery near Eonju Station,

consultations for rhinitis-related nasal surgery

and functional rhinoplasty include an examination

of both functional discomfort, such as nasal congestion,

and the current external condition of the nose

to distinguish and plan the scope of surgery

needed for each individual.

Not everyone with rhinitis

needs the same rhinitis-related nasal surgery.

It is important to comprehensively examine

the condition of internal structures such as the nasal septum

and inferior turbinates,

the symptoms currently present,

and the external changes desired.

Therefore, if you are considering functional rhinoplasty,

rather than first asking “How should I change my nose?”,

asking “What needs to be treated in my nose right now?”

can be the starting point for planning surgery.

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