Will My Sense of Smell Be Altered After a Rhinoplasty?

Today, Houston rhinoplasty plastic surgeons Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig find that many of their Rhinoplasty patients aren’t coming in for solely aesthetic reasons. Many Houston men and women have difficulty breathing and are hoping that a rhinoplasty procedure can make it easier for them to breathe. Since so many Houston rhinoplasty patients are concerned about the function of their nose, it’s no wonder that many rhinoplasty patients ask Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig if their sense of smell will be altered by a rhinoplasty surgery. After all, if you want to be able to breathe easier, wouldn’t you also want to ensure that you can still smell flowers blooming, a fresh cup of coffee, or the sweet smell of a newborn baby’s hair? Read on to learn more about how Rhinoplasty surgery affects the sense of smell, taste, and other breathing issues.

Rhinoplasty Only Temporarily Affects the Senses of Smell and Taste.

Immediately after a Houston Rhinoplasty surgery, you will find that it is difficult to smell and taste food. This is because rhinoplasty surgery initially causes swelling of the nose, which makes it difficult for scent molecules to make their way up the nasal passage and to the back of the nose, where millions of sensory neurons lie and interpret the thousands of scents we smell in a day. And because our sense of smell is so tightly linked to our sense of taste, it will be difficult for you to taste most foods immediately following a Houston Rhinoplasty surgery, too.

You don’t need to worry about your temporary loss of smell turning into a long-term condition, though. It is normal to have difficulty smelling and tasting for about 4 to 6 weeks after surgery as your nose is swollen, much like it is difficult for you to smell and taste foods when you are congested from a cold. But, it is extremely rare for you to permanently lose your sense of smell following a rhinoplasty surgery in Houston. In fact, since rhinoplasty surgeries these days focus just as much on the functional purposes of the nose as the aesthetics, you may find that improved nasal passageways result in a long-term, heightened sense of smell.

Rhinoplasty Can Make It Easier for You to Breathe. Period.

Many potential Houston Rhinoplasty patients are happy to hear that the common plastic surgery procedure often corrects breathing problems and ailments that they have lived with for years. When you have functional rhinoplasty performed by a qualified Houston plastic surgeon, it can correct:

• A deviated septum, which is when the wall that divides your left and right nasal passageways is either bent, bowed or twisted;
• Enlarged turbinates, which are mucous membrane that cover bone and exist in a tiered level of “shelves” throughout the internal nasal cavity;
• Nasal polyps, which are benign, grape-like growths that frequently make it difficult to breathe; and
• Nasal valve collapse, which is when the narrowest nasal passageway of the nose collapses, which may occur with normal breathing or when you are doing strenuous breathing, such as during exercise.

Are You Ready to Get Rhinoplasty?

If you are ready to get a more aesthetically pleasing and functional nose, then don’t delay. Call Houston Rhinoplasty plastic surgeons Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig today for a consultation at (713) 346-9909.