Rhinoplasty: the solution to snoring?

Plastic Surgery

Snoring is a common nuisance for many people. It can disturb not only those sleeping nearby but also the snorer themselves by affecting their breathing patterns. Snoring can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. If you’ve ever researched possible solutions to stop snoring, you might have come across rhinoplasty as a potential remedy. But does it really work?

Snoring is a physical phenomenon that occurs when the flow of air between the nose and throat is not smooth during breathing, causing parts of the throat to vibrate and produce noise.

Under normal conditions, air enters the body through the nose. When there is an obstruction in the airway between the nose and lungs, turbulence occurs. This causes the anatomical structures to vibrate and produce the characteristic noise. In most cases, the cause of the obstruction originates from the nose. People snore because of a deviated septum, swollen turbinates, or narrowed nasal passages. To identify the cause of snoring, visiting an ENT specialist or a plastic surgeon is usually sufficient.

Snoring is more than just making noise during sleep. It can indicate certain health issues such as obesity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), sleep deprivation, nasal deformities, or even relationship problems. Common methods to stop snoring include losing weight if overweight, sleeping on your side, inhaling steam, and getting enough sleep daily. These habits can significantly impact breathing problems. However, if the problem is severe and you seek a permanent solution, you might consider rhinoplasty. If your snoring is caused by structural issues in the nose, rhinoplasty might help.

A surgeon may need to remove part of the cartilage to open up the airway and reshape the nasal septum. Depending on your case, there are two surgical options: closed surgery, where incisions are made inside the nose, and open surgery, where the nasal septum is incised by the surgeon. The entire procedure only takes 2 to 3 hours. During the recovery period, the inside of the nose will be swollen. This swelling narrows the airway and can cause snoring. Therefore, it is normal and expected to snore after rhinoplasty. Eventually, you will be able to breathe more easily.