“I have wanted a rhinoplasty for as long as I could remember, but I always convinced myself that the risk were not worth it. If I would have met with a surgeon years ago I would have realized all the “risk” that I had come up with were extremely unlikely to happen. I have deleted so many pictures of great memories because my nose looked too big and have been self conscious for too long. One week of discomfort was well worth it!”
Many structures in the nose may contribute to nasal obstruction, and each can be treated to make breathing easier:
To learn more about nasal obstruction, visit ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
To learn more about these cutting-edge facilities, please contact Carolina Facial Plastics today.
Advanced imaging to preview your ethnic-specific rhinoplasty results before the procedure
Procedure performed in the privacy, safety, and comfort of our fully accredited Fairview Surgical Suites
Detailed, step-by-step aftercare planning to reduce swelling and downtime, tailored to ethnic rhinoplasty
Access to Fairview Recovery Retreat luxury suites for a stress-free recovery, eliminating the need for post-op accommodation or meal planning
Concierge services available for seamless post-procedure transportation, accommodating both local and out-of-town patients
The nasal septum separates the right and left nasal cavities. It is made of cartilage and bone. Deviated or bent portions of the nasal septum can be caused by traumatic injury to the nasal structure or congenital abnormality. When the septum significantly deviates, it can block the nasal airway. A deviated septum can also block the outflow of the sinus passages, leading to chronic sinusitis.
The septum is composed of cartilage and bone that separates the right and the left nasal passageway. If it is not properly centered, it can narrow the nasal passageway.
The septum can deviate in many locations: the front, back, middle, upper, or lower nasal passages. In many cases, a deviated septum can be fixed with a short surgical procedure called septoplasty. The incisions for this surgery are hidden inside the nose.
Deviations that are closer to the front of the nose will require a more specialized technique to correct this issue adequately, taking both appearance and function into consideration.
Think of your nose as a house. The part you see is like the roof of a house and is supported by the underlying bones and cartilage. If the underlying support has been damaged, the roof caves in and obstructs the air passages. A collapsed nose often occurs after a previous rhinoplasty or facial trauma.
If the nose collapses due to previous surgery or trauma, Dr. Kulbersh performs a “reverse rhinoplasty.” During a normal rhinoplasty, cartilage is removed in some places and added to other areas for support. In a “reverse rhinoplasty,” cartilage is taken from the nose, ear, or possibly the rib to reconstruct and properly support the collapsing nose. Adding new cartilage rebuilds a strong foundation to create a nose that will last a lifetime
There are two valves in the nose, the internal and external nasal valves. During your examination, these valves are inspected to see if there is narrowing causing nasal obstruction.
If your valves are narrowing, a septorhinoplasty is performed to place grafts or spreader grafts in the region to enlarge the area and allow you to breathe more easily again.
The septum has a bony component that can develop an extension that budges into the airway. This can obstruct the nasal airway.
These bony spurs can be corrected with a short surgical procedure, septoplasty, with incisions hidden inside the nose. The bony spur is removed with a small chisel to open the airway.
A septal perforation is a hole in the septum. The hole changes the normal flow of air in the nasal passageway, causing turbulence. This change in the flow of air into your nose creates a feeling of nasal obstruction.
A complete medical exam is performed to identify the cause of your septal perforation. The likely causes are trauma, injury from previous surgery, cocaine, or an autoimmune disease. If Dr. Kulbersh suspects an autoimmune disease, he will refer the patient to a specialist. If there is a non-surgical treatment option, Dr. Kulbersh will attempt it first. In this case, simply humidifying the nose with nasal saline may be all that is needed. If this does not provide sufficient improvement, the hole can either be closed with a small plastic button or surgically closing the hole.
Each nasal passageway has three sets of turbinates. They are long, curved cylinders that run from the front to the back of the nose. They swell and shrink during the day to regulate nasal breathing. This is referred to as the nasal cycle. Turbinates can become abnormally enlarged and obstruct your breathing for various reasons, such as allergies, trauma, or genetics.
Turbinate hypertrophy is initially treated with nasal sprays in an attempt to shrink the tissues. If this non-surgical approach is unsuccessful, then the turbinates can be conservatively reduced in a minor surgical procedure.
If you are suffering from nasal obstruction, schedule a consultation with Dr. Kulbersh today so he can help you breathe with ease again. You can contact us by phone at 704.842.3644 or by completing our online form.
Yes. Rhinoplasty surgery can improve your breathing. Dr. Kulbersh uses special techniques to open your airways and allow you to breathe through your nose more easily.
This varies depending on the cause of nasal obstruction and the required procedure to correct the problem. During your consultation and examination with Dr. Kulbersh, he will explain what you should expect for your recovery.
While in Beverly Hills for his fellowship, Dr. Kulbersh learned cutting edge procedures and the best way to utilize superior products, which he brought to the Charlotte region to correct the deviated septum. One of these products is a thin dissolvable plate, the PDS plate, which is attached to the crooked septum to support and straighten it.
