Can Rhinoplasty Correct Congenital Defects?

More than just the organ you use for smelling things, your nose plays an important role in breathing, as well as warming, filtering, and moistening the air you take in. This is accomplished with many interconnected parts, such as your nasal root, apex, and dorsum, the nasal cavities, cilia, nerve cells, nose hairs, sinuses, septum, and turbinates.

Many conditions can affect this organ, but some are things you may have been born with. Problems with congenital nose defects can affect you in various ways, and one way to treat them is with a rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose job. This is more than just a cosmetic process; a rhinoplasty can make a big difference in the structure and function of your nose, and here, we can explore how it works.

Residents of the West Midtown area of Atlanta, Georgia, dealing with defects that affect their noses can find help with Dr. Shivan Amin and his experienced team at Midtown ENT.

Types of congenital defects

While developing in the womb, you’re going through a vast array of changes, and sometimes, it can mean developing congenital problems like malformations in the nose. These can include

Cleft deformities

Cleft lip and palate are common and treatable conditions, but a nasal cleft deformity affects the structure of the nose rather than the space below it. With this condition, the skin, mucosa, cartilage, and skeletal aspects of the nose develop abnormally, leading to an asymmetrical structure of the nasal cavities.

Pyriform aperture stenosis

This is a rare condition where a bony overgrowth forms in the maxilla (upper jaw), which narrows the anterior opening of the nose.

Nasal dermoid cysts

Another rare defect is a condition in which lesions develop on the nasal dorsum and midline. These lesions can appear at birth or in a child’s early years.

Choanal atresia and stenosis

This problem, which results from nasal septum degeneration in the fifth or sixth week of gestation, is more common in girls than boys.

Congenital syndromes with malformed nasal structures

A fairly broad term for craniofacial abnormalities that signify the presence of other defects that, in combination, characterize a form of disease or syndrome.

What rhinoplasty does to help

This type of plastic surgery is common in making cosmetic changes to your nose but is also very often used to help correct functional problems in broken noses, restore breathing after various treatments or injuries, unblock nasal passages, and treat congenital issues. The type of rhinoplasty you get (open or closed) will depend on the amount of work that needs to be done, and can include:

• Functional: a reconstructive procedure to manage a range of congenital problems
• Secondary: a possible second procedure to manage a complex rhinoplasty

A rhinoplasty could be just what you need to manage structural issues and other problems from congenital issues. For more information and a comprehensive look at your options, make an appointment with Dr. Amin and Midtown ENT today.