February 24th, 2025
Dr. Mulholland, Md
When people think of getting a nose job, also known as rhinoplasty, they often see it as purely cosmetic. This is a myth.
While it is an efficient and popular cosmetic procedure, rhinoplasty can also be performed to improve a person’s ability to breathe through their nasal passageways, not always at the cost of a cosmetic update.
If you want to learn about male rhinoplasty and how Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre can correct any nose concerns that prevent you from breathing properly, click here.
In today’s blog, we will discuss all things related to undergoing nose surgery to breathe better, including some of the issues that can come with obstructions and other breathing problems, such as a deviated septum. Finally, we will discuss what it’s like to get a rhinoplasty in Toronto at our clinic!
What is a Deviated Septum?
The septum is the wall of cartilage, bone, and tissue that runs from your nostrils up the length of your nose, separating each side of your nose into distinct passageways and allowing for an even distribution of airflow.
In an ideal world, the perfect septum would run perfectly straight up the nose and leave each passageway symmetrical. However, for most of the global population, this is not the case. In fact, it is estimated that up to 80% of the population has one!
While this may sound like a very high statistic, most deviated septums are actually quite mild and often do not need nose surgery to improve breathing. In fact, most people go their whole lives without ever knowing they even have one.
A good sign you may have a deviated septum, even a mild one, is if you find it harder to breathe in one side of your nose than the other. In more prominent cases, the deviation may cause a very noticeable blockage. In some cases, a deviated septum can even block both sides of the nose. The ability to breathe properly may further be inhibited during colds, allergy flare-ups, or when lying down. In these cases, nose surgery to improve breathing is often required. If you think you require nose surgery to breathe better, or even if you’re just wondering, “should I get a nose job?” continue reading, as there are other signs of a deviated septum.
Other Symptoms of a Deviated Septum
Chronic Nosebleeds
One sign you may have a deviated septum is a tendency toward chronic nosebleeds. This is because improper airflow in the nasal passageways can cause the inside of your nose to collect irritants and dry out more easily, leading to tissue cracking and bleeding. This symptom is especially prominent during seasons with heightened allergies, such as spring and summer, or in cold, dry climates. Some may find that a humidifier can help with this symptom, though this is not always the case.
Reoccurring Sinus Infections
When your sinuses are blocked by a deviated septum, mucus can’t pass as easily through your nasal passageways, leading to a mucus blockage. This is especially true when you have increased mucus production due to allergies or a cold. When mucus does not have an adequate way to drain from your nose, it can lead to a full-blown sinus infection or other conditions, such as post-nasal drip.
Headaches
If you’ve ever felt a sinus headache when you’ve had a cold, you can probably understand this not-so-great feeling. Having nasal breathing problems, such as a deviated septum, can cause pressure to gradually build up in your sinuses because of the effort required to push air through. This built-up pressure can lead to chronic headaches, in some cases, on a daily basis.
Snoring
Having a deviated septum can cause nose breathing problems not only when you’re awake but when you’re sleeping, too! Chronic snoring is one of the most common signs of a deviated septum. This is because snoring occurs when the muscles in the airways strain to get enough air, causing the throat muscles and tissues to vibrate.
Snoring can be very disruptive to a person’s sleep, causing them to wake up frequently and have a dry, sore throat, and can also interrupt the sleep of those sharing a room with them. After a night of chronic snoring, even if one doesn’t remember doing so, a person can wake up feeling poorly rested when they wake up.
Sleep Apnea
In the same way, nasal breathing problems can cause snoring; they can also cause a more severe condition known as sleep apnea. When a person has sleep apnea, the strain to breathe can be so intense that their breath can actually come to a momentary halt. This can be startling and result in a person jolting awake. This can not only be a frightening experience but can also cause other issues, such as headaches, hypertension, strokes, or even heart failure.
Because of these serious risks, many with this condition end up requiring a CPAP machine, a device that helps maintain a positive, consistent flow and pressure through a person’s airways while they sleep.
Does Rhinoplasty Help Breathing?
Yes! Fortunately, a deviated septum and other nasal breathing issues, such as growth or breakage, can often be treated with rhinoplasty to improve breathing.
Furthermore, despite a common misconception, getting nose surgery for breathing doesn’t always have to result in a cosmetic overhaul of its appearance, as we will explain below. Here are some of the procedures we offer at our plastic surgery clinic in Toronto!
Open Rhinoplasty
This is also known as traditional rhinoplasty. Many people who undergo nose surgery for breathing use the opportunity to also improve their appearance through open rhinoplasty. Open rhinoplasty can correct cosmetic issues such as bumps and bends on the nose, bulbous tips, changes in the size and width of the nose, and more. This is performed by making incisions and manipulating tissues, cartilage, and bone to achieve the desired nose shape.
Generally, women opt for open rhinoplasty to make their noses appear more slender, feminine, and rounded. Meanwhile, more men are undergoing rhinoplasty to achieve a straighter nose and a broader nasal profile for a more masculine look.
Septoplasty
Not everyone who seeks nose surgery to breathe better wants a change in the appearance of their nose. Septoplasty is a type of closed rhinoplasty that aims to correct breathing issues, such as a deviated septum or other nasal obstructions.
While this type of procedure helps improve a person’s overall breathing, it generally does not change the outward appearance, except when a bend, break, bump, or other deviation is corrected that was previously noticeable on the outside. It should be noted that in extreme cases where the above requires extensive changes, open rhinoplasty may be the only option for a patient to achieve their surgical needs.
Revision Rhinoplasty
A very common question we get is whether a patient can undergo rhinoplasty more than once. Usually, the answer is yes. While most patients end up loving their new nose, our clinic is happy to perform revision rhinoplasty in Toronto for those unhappy with their previous work or who have come to us from other clinics seeking correction.
It is important to seek out skilled rhinoplasty surgeons, like those at our clinic, as revision rhinoplasty for breathing can be quite difficult, as the nose’s structural integrity is often less malleable due to scar tissue. Additionally, because it can take up to 2 years for a previous rhinoplasty to fully settle and heal, we recommend that the patient wait at least that long before seeking revision rhinoplasty.
Book Your Rhinoplasty with Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre
TPS Wellness Centre has some of the best plastic surgeons in Toronto. When you choose our clinic, you can trust that your procedure will be performed with the highest level of expertise, skill, and comfort.
If you are seeking rhinoplasty for breathing or simply to improve its cosmetic appearance, don’t hesitate to call us at 647-723-3739 or schedule a consultation online. Our dedicated team will help you find the rhinoplasty procedure best for you!
Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md
Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.
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