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About 350,000 Americans have rhinoplasty annually, including cosmetic surgeries (to correct appearance) and functional surgeries (to correct structural problems). In general, cosmetic surgeries cover the problems you can see, while functional surgeries address problems hidden within the nose.
At Midtown ENT, in West Midtown in Atlanta, Georgia, our double board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeon, Shivan Amin, MD, is a foremost specialist in both functional and cosmetic rhinoplasties.
Dr. Amin’s unique training allows him to expertly and artfully reconstruct, reshape, or enhance noses based on individual needs. Your reasons for needing or wanting a rhinoplasty may be very different from others, so Dr. Amin specializes in highly patient-focused personalized procedures.
Let’s explore five problems that can be treated with either cosmetic or functional rhinoplasty — including some that may surprise you.
Your nose is right in the middle of your face, so if it’s out of proportion to your other features, you might be unhappy with your overall appearance. Some of our patients may opt for cosmetic rhinoplasty to improve facial symmetry if their noses are:
Cosmetic rhinoplasty can balance your nose appearance with the rest of your face. So, your nose can enhance your appearance instead of detract from it.
Your septum is the plank of cartilage running down the middle of your nose, dividing your nostrils. Up to 8 in 10 people have some amount of septal deviation (leaning to either side) today.
Although a mildly deviated septum doesn’t typically cause problems, more serious deviation can disrupt normal airflow. This can lead to chronic problems with breathing out of one side of your nose.
You can have surgery that corrects your septal deviation (septoplasty — a type of functional rhinoplasty) in which Dr. Amin can restore your septum and improve your breathing while also reshaping your nose.
Nose fractures often heal incorrectly if not treated right away. This can lead to a bump or other appearance changes as well as difficulty breathing freely.
Functional rhinoplasty can repair, realign, and stabilize broken bones, which leads to a restored appearance and improved breathing.
Turbinates are tiny bony structures inside your nose. The exterior tissue contains many blood vessels and nerves. Normally, turbinates help you breathe.
But, allergies, infections, and inflammation can all cause turbinate swelling. This may lead to chronic breathing problems. A functional rhinoplasty can reduce or remove swollen turbinates to give you notably better breathing.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), around 13 million Americans have nasal polyps — small grape-like growths inside the nasal cavity.
Although nasal polyps generally aren’t painful, they can become really troublesome for some people. Common problems may include a runny nose, congestion, facial pressure, and snoring.
Treatments usually include nonsurgical measures at first, but severe nasal polyps may require a functional rhinoplasty to remove the polyps and improve your airflow.
Ready to schedule your rhinoplasty consultation? Here at Midtown ENT, Dr. Amin specializes in both cosmetic and functional surgeries, including rhinoplasty revision. He can often combine cosmetic and functional procedures based on your individual needs.
Connect with us online to schedule your consultation or call our office at 470-748-3105 today.