“Can you have empty nose syndrome after nose surgery?”
I am a 22 year old female. I want to know can you have empty nose syndrome after nose surgery?
6 Answers
Yes! If the normal nasal valve is disrupted or turbinates which are baffles in your nose causing turbulence of are flow and makes your nasal passages into pipes, that will occur. Turbulence is necessary as this facilitates moisturizing air inhaled so that it is completely saturated when it reaches the back of your throat. It also absorbs vapor as you exhale.
Yes, empty nose syndrome is an unfortunate complication of some types of nasal surgery. Empty nose syndrome is the condition where your nasal passages are visibly open but you feel like they are obstructed. It can be coupled with dry nose and crusting. The typical case that can lead to this condition is usually a septoplasty with or without turbinate reduction. However, it can also happen with turbinate reduction on its own. A rhinoplasty should not lead to empty nose syndrome unless it is coupled with a septoplasty. Luckily, the risk of empty nose syndrome is low. Some studies suggest that it is around 1% although others have suggested it is a little bit higher. The treatments for empty nose syndrome vary and the results are hit and miss.
As a board certified plastic surgeon, my key interest is cosmetic improvement of the nose and restoration of proper facial balance. During a rhinoplasty procedure, we commonly repair significant septal deviations or old nasal deviations from fractures and sometimes inject enlarged tubinates to improve restricted breathing capacity postoperatively. Empty nose syndrome is seemingly a complication associated with aggressive turbinates removal and sinus procedures. These treatments are usually reserved to Ear, Nose andThroat specialists (Oto rhino laryngologists) and unlikely to be performed in cosmetic procedures!
Yes. And it’s hard to treat
No one really knows about the pathological reason. These group of patients complaints of nasal obstruction, dryness and difficulty in breathing even with clear nasal passage. Aggressive reduction of turbinate or septal resection May create the symptoms of empty nose syndrome from dryness and crusting
Empty nose syndrome is a condition when nasal passages are clear, however the person has sensation of nasal stuffiness. This is extremely rare occurrence after cosmetic rhinoplasty, but can occur.
